NFL Trade Deadline 2013: New York Giants not ruling out trading Hakeem Nicks, extremely unlikely chance of trade

New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (88) carries the ball during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The New York Giants won the game 15-7. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

There are several potential trade targets at the wide receiver position as we get closer to this afternoon’s deadline, and Hakeem Nicks is the best of those potential prizes. Guys like Josh Gordon would be great additions for a contender, but Nicks is simply on another level in terms of talent. He doesn’t have the character or off-field issues like Gordon, Greg Little, or Kenny Britt either, but Nicks’s injury concerns are severe enough. Although it would take quite a bit to get him, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News reports that Giants GM Jerry Reese isn’t ruling out trading anybody- that includes Hakeem Nicks.

That said, it would be almost impossible to envision Nicks getting dealt out of New York. The Giants have rejected inquiries regarding Nicks, and a team source told Vacchiano that a deal is “extremely unlikely”. In fact, the source told Vacchiano that the chances of the Giants trading anybody is “extremely unlikely”, and that’s mostly because Nicks is the guy with the best shot at getting traded.

The Giants would be willing to trade Nicks- or anyone else, for that matter- if they are absolutely blown away by an offer, but that almost goes without saying. Like most teams at the deadline, the Giants don’t want to trade a star player, because it ruins any hope of a second-half comeback. As unlikely as a swing in record is for the Giants, nothing is impossible, especially in a very weak NFC East. Trading Nicks would, as Vacchiano notes, cause the Giants to essentially throw in the towel on the season, since Nicks is one of their most talented players. It’s a complex situation at this point, but it’s safe to say that Nicks will stay in New York; I don’t expect the Giants to suddenly get an immensely favorable offer for him.

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