New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks and Compensation
By Adam Ganeles
Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
With the latest reports indicating the Giants are unlikely to deal free agent-to-be Hakeem Nicks before the October 29th trade deadline, the compensatory pick rule takes on added pertinence:
"According to the NFL: “Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. … The number of picks a team receives equals the net loss of compensatory free agents up to a maximum of four. … Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. … Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula.”"
Due to the complexities of the above rule, whether the Giants will eventually be awarded a compensatory selection is impossible to project. If they are, the pick will not be applied until 2015. Which begs the question: why hold onto Nicks and, in all likelihood, have him walk away in free agency for diddly squat at season’s end?
Yes, trading Nicks now would be selling low on one of your top assets. Apparently a 10-game Nicks rental would attract a mid-round selection (as high as a third) in return. Not an overwhelming haul by any stretch of the imagination, but given the current lackadaisical effort/form from the fifth year wideout, on an 0-6 team, why keep him around? Trust your scouting, take the pick, and draft a useful prospect (easier said than done of late).
Additionally, consider the development of Rueben Randle. It’s all but written in stone that he’ll be lining up on the outside in a starting capacity for the Giants in 2014. And while Randle possesses an abundance of physical talent, his green attributes are clear to see. The cure? More run. Play him in two-WR sets and get him more reps with Eli Manning. Randle played on just 22 offensive snaps against Chicago, which is hard to fathom given the unfortunate state of affairs the Giants find themselves in.