3 Reasons The Giants Signed Hakeem Nicks
By Eric Mollo
Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (14) in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
- Nicks Will Serve As A 4th Receiver
It seems like a bit of an oxymoron, but the 4th receiver is important to the Giants’ offense. I think we saw that Sunday.
Like I said, I don’t think the Giants are necessarily replacing Victor Cruz with Nicks. The man I think he’s replacing, if you want to use that word: the team’s fourth receiver Myles White.
White had a very good preseason in Green Bay, and he’s had three catches this year, all in the last three games. We saw him on the field a little more this past weekend against New England. As a matter of fact, I think we’ve seen White on the field this season more than we were expecting, and more importantly, I think more than the Giants were expecting.
It’s not a knock on White, but he’s an unproven third-year player who was cut by Green Bay so they could sign James Jones—the receiver the Giants cut in the preseason. He can step in and catch a pass here or there, but he’s really not a guy the Giants want to rely on too heavily.
My point: the team would rather not have White contributing as a receiver at all—they want him on special teams, which is a very important role in itself. And that means they want someone more reliable on the outside, a la Hakeem Nicks—a veteran who I think the team feels comfortable giving a few snaps per game when Beckham or Harris need some rest.
I credit White for the very nice catch he made this weekend against New England, but I don’t think the Giants were very comfortable with him on the field, let alone getting a bigger role on offense. So, they signed someone like Nicks to take his place as the team’s fourth receiver.
In the NFL, teams need a lot of depth to compete. The Giants know they’ll need it in the stretch run, and if Nicks still has even some of the explosiveness, talent, etc. he once showed with the Giants, he could be a valuable depth piece.
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