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After visiting with the team today, the Indianapolis Colts announced tonight that they have signed wide receiver Hakeem Nicks to a one-year deal worth a reported $3.5 million - a great deal for the Colts.
Nicks was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants in 2009 and spent the last five years playing for them. He has played in 70 games, catching 311 passes for 4,622 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has two career 1,000+ yard seasons and a few years ago was among the best wide receivers in football. He has been plagued by injury the past two seasons, however, and his production has dropped as a result - so much so that in 2013, he didn't catch a single touchdown.
Nicks is a talented player, however, and if he can stay healthy will be a tremendous addition to the offense. He sent a letter to all 32 teams with notes from some of the most respected doctors in the business clearing his health, but there are still some concerns - which is why he was willing to take a one-year "show me" contract. For the Colts to get him at $3.5 million this year is a steal and a tremendous move by Ryan Grigson.
Nicks had previously mentioned how he would be dangerous playing with Andrew Luck and he very well might be. He adds a nice boost to a Colts receiving core that really needed it. Reggie Wayne is coming back, but he's 35 years old, coming off of a torn ACL, and is on the final year of his contract. T.Y. Hilton is phenomenal, but he needs help and can't do it all on his own. Da'Rick Rogers and LaVon Brazill both have talent but are too unproven yet to count on - thus, the Colts needed to get help at receiver this offseason. Don't be surprised if they also address the position in the draft as well.
This move continues the trend of singning a receiver to a one-year contract for Grigson, although this is easily the best of the bunch. In 2012 it was Donnie Avery and in 2013 it was Darrius Heyward-Bey. The Colts had low risk deals, but the reward wasn't high. With Nicks, it's a low risk deal but the reward could be very high.
There is absolutely no reason to dislike this move for the Colts, especially given the price. When healthy, Nicks can be a very good receiver. Another great move by Ryan Grigson, who is putting together a very nice offseason for the Colts.