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Hakeem Nicks and his new representatives at Roc Nation have to be smiling broadly this morning. That's because the five-year, $25-million contract ($10 million guaranteed) the Philadelphia Eagles just handed wide receiver Riley Cooper has to be great news for Nicks and other free-agent wide receivers.
Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News lays out the facts pretty clearly:
In 2013: Hakeem Nicks, in a bad year, had 56 catches for 896 yards. Riley Cooper, in his best year, had 47 catches for 835 yards ...
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoNYDN) February 27, 2014
Cooper, 27 next season, had a season-best of 23 catches entering the 2013 season. Nicks, also 26, has been considered as under-achieving the past two seasons, but still had 53 and 56 catches -- and he had back-to-back 1,000-yard plus receiving seasons for the New York Giants in 2010 and 2011, when he caught 79 and 87 passes, respectively.
Cooper's eight touchdown receptions in 2013 looks great compared to the big, fat goose egg Nicks compiled in that department. Still, pretty clear to see that Nicks at his worst is a better player than Cooper at his best.
It stands to reason that, no matter what the Giants and their fans think of Nicks' production and effort in 2013, he is going to get handsomely paid on the free-agent market.