30 FAs in 30 Days: Carl Nicks
 

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...1-045ee89b8958

Today's featured player is New Orleans Saints left guard Carl Nicks

NFL free agency begins Tuesday, March 13th at 3:00 PM (CST). With the Chiefs looking to improve depth and competition across their roster, KCChiefs.com will preview 30 potential free agents in the 30 days leading up to the start of free agency. Up first is New Orleans Saints guard Carl Nicks (1/30).

NAME: Carl Nicks
POSITION: Offensive Guard

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-5, 343

COLLEGE: Nebraska

GP/GS: 64/61

AGE/EXPEREINCE: 26/4 seasons

BACKGROUND: A two-time Pro Bowler and back-to-back All-Pro performer, Nicks hasn’t missed a game since joining the Saints as a fifth-round draft pick out of Nebraska in 2008. Nicks is known as a powerful run blocker and for his quick feet in pass protection. He’s started every game at left guard since Week 4 of his rookie campaign.

In Nicks’ four seasons as a starter, New Orleans leads the NFL in 1st downs (1,469), offensive touchdowns (231) and yards from scrimmage (27,046).

AVAILABILITY: An unrestricted free agent in 2012, Nicks will be one of the most appealing players to hit the open market. He’s regarded by most as the prime target of this year’s free agent class of offensive linemen.

According to Nicks in an interview last week, the Saints have yet to reach out regarding a contract extension.

"They never talked to me at all about it really, which I thought was kind of weird," Nicks told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "I talked to (GM Mickey Loomis) the last day before exit meetings, and he said they were going to do their best to try to keep me. So that's the gist of contract talks."

Nicks is reportedly seeking a big contract after seeing teammate Jahri Evans haul in a seven-year, $56.7 million contract in 2010. Evans’ contract was the richest deal given to an interior offensive lineman at the time.

From the sounds of it, Nicks wants to stay in New Orleans. Time will tell if that happens or not.

COACHING CONNECTIONS: Chiefs linebackers coach Gary Gibbs and defensive assistant Adam Zimmer know Nicks well. Gibbs served as New Orleans’ defensive coordinator during Nicks’ rookie season and Zimmer paired with Nicks for two seasons, including the Saints Super Bowl XLIV championship squad in 2009.

WHY HE FITS: The Chiefs have keyed an improved offensive line as one of this year’s top off-season priorities. Kansas City is set to return both starters at guard from last season – Jon Asamoahand Ryan Lilja – but it’s hard to argue against Nicks’ accomplishments and his age is appealing as well

Nicks would be a starter for any of the NFL’s 32 teams, which is why he’s one of this year’s marquee names heading into free agency.

**** spending that much on a guard, especially on a line that would still have Richardson at right tackle.

I guess it would all depend on Carr and Bowe as well as how the contract is structured. If it is heavily frontloaded, then I'm more than okay with it. It's not like we don't have the space.

Its a luxery that in the long run will have the team making decisions to cut good players down the road. He'd certainly be an upgrade over Lilja. If you can't keep Waters for the same reasons, you can't take a run at Nicks.

This is going to end up being a list of 30 free agents the Chiefs will either not pursue, or make embarassingly low offers to.

All we would have to do is structure the deal with performance bonuses and a second year roster bonus and all of a sudden, you have a guy on a 50 million dollar contract that 28 million is paid out in his first two years and the other 22 is spread between 5 years.

Saying we would have tote ANYONE go because of deals is a little off.

If there were a cap floor this year, we would be 50 million dollars away from it.

Where there is a will there is a way.

I could see Pioli signing him and drafting a right tackle really early in the draft because those are two moves that could help his pet rock "step his game up"

I wouldn't be the least bit shocked to see us have a line like this next year:

Albert
Nicks
Hudson
Asamoah
Reiff

That would be damn impressive and if Cassel still shits the bed, Stanzi would be able to flourish behind that line with the weapons we have.

Waters and Nicks are not remotely in the same spot in their careers. Nicks would cost more, but we are so far from cap trouble it's insane. I'm not saying sign him come hell or high water, but I would be happy to see it.

Or make good offers to, which the player then uses as leverage to get better contracts from other teams.

Bowe, Carr, and Nicks? That's 3 top flight FAs in a single year. I just don't think its gonna happen.

There are lower tier guards out there that can still upgrade the position.

This would be a sick line. JC would rape faces.

I'd absolutely love the Broncos to sign Nicks to help with the run game. He's one of the FAs the Broncos should pursue. We have a great guard in Kuper, but Beadles is not working and should be a back up. Put Kuper on one side, Nicks on the other and hopefully this will help Walton.

I still believe the better option in free agency would be signing Nick Hardwicke or Chris Myers and leaving Hudson at his natural position of guard.

Could be true milk, just have to depend on what they view Hudson as.


Both those centers are a little older. With Nicks you get a guy that could be the top G in the NFL for 8 years.

Just because Hudson started at G in college doesn't mean thats his natural position. Scouts felt he fit better in the NFL as a C.