Saints sign veteran WR Hakeem Nicks to 1-year deal

ByMike Triplett ESPN logo
Wednesday, July 27, 2016

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Veteran receiver Hakeem Nicks is signing a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints on the eve of their first training camp practice, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Nicks worked out for the Saints last season and again in May, but they initially opted to sign veteran receiver Vincent Brown, who was placed on injured reserve earlier this week.

Saints coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis declined to confirm the signing. Nicks, though, posted the Saints logo on his Twitter feed.

Nicks, 28, now replaces Brown as the oldest receiver on the Saints' roster by far. After releasing veteran Marques Colston this offseason, New Orleans doesn't have another receiver older than 24.

Because of that lack of experience, Nicks should have a decent shot at cracking the roster along with projected starters Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead and second-round draft pick Michael Thomas.

Nicks (6-foot-1, 208 pounds) had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the New York Giants in 2010 and 2011 and helped them win a Super Bowl. The former first-round draft pick has a total of 5,081 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns in seven NFL seasons, but his career has stalled in recent years.

Nicks spent one season in Indianapolis in 2014, then got cut by the Tennessee Titans last summer before returning to the Giants for the final six games of the 2015 season.