New York Giants Draft picks
Round 1...#29... Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina
Junior
6’ 1” 210 lbs.
Strengths: Hands, Agility, Change of Direction, Vertical, Acceleration, Body Control
Weaknesses: Route Running, Speed, Recognition/Awareness
Many people look at 2008 as Hakeem Nicks breakout year, and while it probably was Nicks’ best season, 2006 was his true breakout season. Bursting onto the scene with 39 catches and 660 receiving yards, Nicks led UNC in both categories while establishing school freshman records. His 171 receiving yards against Notre Dame was also a North Carolina single-game record.
Nicks drastically improved in 2007, finishing with 74 catches for 958 yards and 5 TD while earning 2nd Team All-ACC honors. He continued to break school records in 2008 as his 1,222 yards and 12 TDs were both school single season bests. He also set a UNC bowl-record with 217 receiving yards in the Meinke Car Care Bowl against West Virginia. Nicks finished his career with 2,263 receiving yards, the most in school history, he also set UNC records for career catches (181), career TDs (21) and single-season TDs (12).
Nicks combines some outstanding physical traits with a flair for the dramatic. He has made some college football’s most impressive catches over his career and has been a very consistent performer for UNC despite working with subpar quarterbacks at a basketball school. Nicks has some of college’s best hands and rarely drops easy catches. Despite not being a burner, Nicks has great flexibility, body control and top notch change of direction ability. He has a quick, high vertical and is strong enough to fight for the ball. After making the catch, Nicks builds to top speed in a few steps but will not run away from the defender. A little stiff in the hips and not real sudden but he can make defenders miss and is tough to bring down. He gets off the line quickly and does not hesitate to go up in a crowd.
Some spit and polish is needed on Nicks’ game. He has a tendency to round out his routes and does not explode out of his breaks as well as he should. He breaks off early if blanketed in an effort to create separation. He has not quite mastered the art of reading the defence and does not always find the loose spots on the field. He accelerates quickly but does not have the top end speed to gobble the cushion and get behind the corner. A physical press can get his mind of the route and will lead him to play much slower as his concentration wanes.
His spectacular catches and big plays in big games has gotten everyone’s attention and rightfully so. He may require some extra attention from coaches to get his route running up to par with the rest of his physical gifts but he may have the most reliable hands in the nation, this side of Michael Crabtree of course. Nicks is one of the better receiving prospects available for the 2009 NFL Draft and if he runs a good 40 at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine, he could be a late first round pick.
Round 2...#45 (from Saints)... Clint Sintim OLB Virginia
Round 2...#60... William Beatty OT UConn
Round 3...#85 (from eagles) Ramses Barden WR Cal Poly
Round 3...#91... Traded to Seahawks
Round 3...#100 (Compensatory pick)... Travis Beckum TE Wisconsin
Round 4...#129... Andre Brown RB NC State
Round 5...#151 (from Saints)... Rhett Bomar QB Sam Houston State
Round 6...#200... DeAndre Wright DB New Mexico
Round 7...#238...Stoney Woodson DB