http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer...ng-bids-for-giants-wide-receiver-hakeen-nicks
Reality is with 2 teams in the discussion, they will get at least a 2nd rounder and other picks. If there are 3-4 teams going for him, I can see him bringing back a first. GM's big against each other and their competitiveness comes out. If Richardson got a 1 who isn't even that good, Nicks will do the same if there is a bidding war even if he's a UFA at the end of the season.
There are quite a few SIGNIFICANT differences between Richardson and Nicks though...
1.) Nicks has NEVER played a full season and is injury prone... You know it, I know it, the Giants know it, and it would be extremely naive to believe that the future team he hopefully get's traded to doesn't know it... Richardson has missed 1 game so far...
2.) Nicks has 10 games left this season... Richardson at the time of the trade had an almost a full 3 seasons left on his contract. 14 games for this year, 16 each for the next two years... 46 games vs 10... that is a significant difference.
3.) Richardson has already had the vast majority of his contract paid by Cleavland and was only due a remaining $6,602,671 (see below)($1,165,901 for the remainder of 2013, $2,252,708 for 2014, and $3,184,062 for 2015. Nicks on the other hand has a total of $3,705,000 this year... prorate that out to a remaining 10 games and he is still owed $2,315,625 ($231,562.50/game). So Richardson would get paid less for the 14 games this year or the 16 games next year compared to 10 for Nicks...
4.) Now NE has the cap space, Packers have the space, but 49ers may or may not depending on the reports you read... So 2 of 3 have the cap space, 1, not so sure...
5.) Richardson won't be getting a new deal until 2016 which is far too early to tell what it could be worth as it depends on 3 YEARS of performance.... Nicks has been reportedly seeking a deal worth ~$10M/year...
According to
http://overthecap.com/contract-year-serieshakeem-nicks/ "Competing for WR free agent money in the offseason will be Kenny Britt of the Tennessee Titans and Jeremy Maclin of the Philadelphia Eagles. If Nicks can put up a full season of solid production I can see him in the getting paid as a Top 10 WR. If the Giants choose to franchise him after the season, he will cost $11mm for one year. Even if he has a terrible season, given his age and talent, he will command a minimum of $6mm APY. Estimated New Contract: 5 years, $47.5mm" That would be $9.5M/year... So if they signed him to a long term deal, he'd make at the least $6M/year, and if not, at least $11M for a year...
Nicks has been above average this year, yes, but not by all that much and quite a bit lower than the best...
So you are asking a trade partner to take on $2,315,625 for this year with the possibility of anywhere between $6M and $11M/year if they were able to retain him or the possibility of not retaining him and you want a 1st and possibly more?
REALLY???
Financial implications of the Richardson trade:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/financial-implications-trent-richardson-trade-170054556--nfl.html
Nicks current contract breakdown:
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-york-giants/hakeem-nicks/