Colts Free Agent Wideout Hakeem Nicks Visiting 49ers

According to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, Indianapolis Colts free agent wideout Hakeem Nicks is visiting the San Francisco 49ers today:

It’s the first interest we’ve heard in Nicks all offseason, who hasn’t garnered much attention on the open market. The 6-year veteran is coming off a season in which he caught 38 receptions for 405 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns for the Colts.

Jan 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (14) against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Unfortunately, a series of lower leg injuries have diminished a lot of Nicks prior explosiveness. While he should be able to find a wide receiver job somewhere as a 3rd or 4th wide receiver, he’s no longer the young playmaker he once was.

With the Colts, Nicks was largely up-and-down last season. However, he did catch fire late in the season and had a handful of crucial catches late in the season and the playoffs, including a 15-yard acrobatic touchdown reception in the team’s Divisional Round win against the Denver Broncos.

However, the Colts have already added two wideouts in Andre Johnson and Duron Carter this offseason, so it looks like there may not be anymore room on their wide receiver depth chart for a veteran wideout like Hakeem Nicks. In a lot of ways, the team has effectively signaled that they’re moving on, without actually saying it. It comes as a potential significant blow to Nicks production, who previously said he “wanted to return” and will no longer get to catch passes from Andrew Luck.

If Nicks does sign with San Francisco, he’ll theoretically provide proven depth behind both Anquan Boldin and recently added Torrey Smith at wide receiver, in what will be a drastically different looking 49ers team. Some football experts aren’t as optimistic however: 

It’ll be interesting to see if Nicks visit leads to him actually inking a contract. One thing looks for certain, his tenure with the Indianapolis Colts was very short-lived on a 1-year “prove it” deal that apparently failed to meet expectations. Thanks for this clutch catch though, Hakeem.

Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (14) lands on Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib (21) after making a touchdown reception during the third quarter in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports