A number of veteran wide receivers still remain unsigned after almost a full month into the new league year. One of those names is Hakeem Nicks, who may have a suitor on Monday.
Nicks told ESPN's Josina Anderson that he is visiting the San Francisco 49ers today. Nicks could be a potential fit in San Fran considering the team released Stevie Johnson this month and have yet to re-sign Michael Crabtree, who has been said to have "no interest" in re-signing with the team. He met with the Miami Dolphins and garnered interest from the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers.
As a result, it appears the Niners are looking elsewhere and for cheaper options. Nicks was under a one-year, $3.975 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts in 2014, but had a disappointing season after catching only 38 passes for 405 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. He notched career-lows in nearly every single statistic, including receptions (38), receiving yards (405), yards per game (25.3), yards per catch (10.7) and 100-yard games (0).
However, the presence of Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin in San Francisco suggests Nicks will assume a depth role. This likely keeps the Colts in the running because of the emergence of rookie Donte Moncrief, who is expected to see "significant reps" in 2015 alongside fellow receiver T.Y. Hilton. The 21-year-old hauled in 32 catches for 444 yards and three touchdowns in his first season with the team.
ESPN's Mike Wells writes Nicks could still re-sign with Indianapolis and contribute as the third receiver behind Hilton and Moncrief. He'll likely have to sign a one-year deal at a reduced price considering his poor campaign in 2014 to go along with the current "trend toward young receivers making an immediate impact," writes ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio.
"Inconsistent is the best way to describe Nicks' season in Indianapolis. He opened the season with 10 catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games. He then went through a stretch where he had two or fewer catches in nine out of 11 games. He ended up dropping down to fourth on the depth chart at receiver," adds Wells.
"Per a league source, there's currently little or no market for 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree and Colts receiver Hakeem Nicks. Likewise, Colts receiver Reggie Wayne has been MIA throughout the first seven days of free agency," Florio wrote about two weeks ago.
In an upcoming NFL Draft that consists of receiving talents such as Alabama's Amari Cooper, West Virginia's Kevin White, Louisville's Devante Parker, Oklahoma's Dorial Green-Beckham, Central Florida's Breshad Perriman, Arizona State's Jaelen Strong and Miami's Phillip Dorsett, some of these veteran names will become expendable, if they haven't already.
