New Orleans Saints sign receiver Hakeem Nicks
By Ted Fleming
New Orleans inks veteran receiver after workouts and adds much-needed experience to a relatively inexperienced receiving corps.
The New Orleans Saints have signed wide receiver Hakeem Nicks to a one-year contract, according to a report at NBC Sports. Terms of the agreement were not released.
Nicks tweeted the Saints logo not long after the signing was announced.
The seven-year veteran had worked out for a few teams, but the Saints believe he can provide the much-needed leadership and experience to a generally inexperienced group of receivers. After Marques Colston was released earlier in the offseason, the Saints had a void for a big, possession receiver and hope Nicks can stay healthy to fill his shoes.
Nicks, 28, spent five seasons with the New York Giants before a year in Indianapolis with the Colts. He returned to Big Blue last season; however he appeared in just six games, two starts, with just seven receptions for 54 yards (7.7 average).
The 29th overall pick in the 2009 draft, Nicks showed a lot of promise early in his career, but in the last few seasons his production has dropped off. He will join Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Brandon Coleman as targets for Drew Brees.
There is speculation that second-round pick Michael Thomas is not ready for prime time and with veteran Vincent Brown landing on injured reserve, the Saints reached out to Nicks. Brown was signed during the offseason.
In his career, the North Carolina product has twice reached the 1,000 receiving yards mark with 1,052 in 2010 (13 games) and 1,192 the following season (15 games). Overall he has caught 356 passes for 5.081 yards and 31 TDs.