The NY Giants are letting Hakeem Nicks test free agency in 2014 and rumors have a number of teams interested in signing the star, as the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks all could be fits for the wideout on the market come March 11.
The Giants love Nicks, drafted Nicks and know that Nicks can be a great player, but after his past two seasons with the team, they are content to let him test the market and that likely means he will be leaving. Nicks has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons since winning the Super Bowl and he didn't score a touchdown last season and all that could be what leads up to the split. According to ESPN.com, general manager Jerry Reese said that Nicks and Justin Tuck would be hitting free agency, although he did not rule out bringing one or both players back.
The Giants also have to worry about a number of other free agents, including Andre Brown and Jon Beason and that could be another factor in whether Nicks leaves or stays. Last season the team had issues with Victor Cruz on his deal and eventually got things done and now they will see what the price is for Nicks on the market and based on the money some teams have, he likely will be in a new uniform next season.
Nicks will get attention from his home town Panthers, as they have some money to spend and a lack of top tier players at the position apart from Steve Smith. Cam Newton could greatly benefit from a player like Nicks and he has size and speed on the outside and is one of the most explosive receivers in the league when healthy. Nicks was integral to the Super Bowl team from a couple years ago and he was nearly unstoppable during that playoff run, scoring a touchdown against the Falcons with blazing speed and also putting a dagger in the Packers on his Hail Mary catch at the end of the first half in the divisional round.
The Oakland Raiders should be in the mix since they have a projected $60 million available to spend, while they also have Jacoby Ford becoming a free agent a need a wide receiver to pair with Denarius Moore. Adding someone like Nicks will help whatever quarterback the Raiders decide to use and the same goes for the Jets, as they have a huge lack of playmakers at the wide receiver position and could use to give Geno Smith some more support.
Nicks has played in 70 games in his career and he has missed at least one in each of his five seasons, but he has been at 100 targets or more in each of the past four years and he had back to back 1,000 yard seasons in 2010 and 2011. Last season he played in 15 games and had 896 yards but zero touchdowns and now over the past three seasons he has 10 touchdowns, while in 2010 he had 11 all in one year.
The Giants would love to keep Nicks, but they may not be able to afford it.