Hakeem Nicks biggest red flag has been injury issues, and to combat those ideas, his agents have “circulated medical assurances to all clubs from two of the nation’s leading specialists that past foot and knee injuries should not inhibit the wide receiver’s 2014 season,” writes Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com.
Dr. Robert Anderson and Dr. James Andrews both wrote that there are no signs that his previous injury issues are likely to recur and affect the ability for Nicks to resume his career.
While injuries have hindered his career, when healthy Nicks has been among the most productive young receivers in the game, and was especially effective during the Giants’ most recent Super Bowl run. Our own Luke Adams listed him as the 12th best free agent option, and as the top receiver as he is one spot ahead of Eric Decker.
Even still, Decker is expected to receive a much larger contract than Nicks, making the former Giant more likely to be attainable on a low-risk, high-reward contract.
According to Mortensen’s sources, Nicks would be willing to accept a one- or two-year contract to prove that he is the top flight receiver we saw in 2010 and 2011, and not the middling talent that was on the field a year ago.