Should the Indianapolis Colts Bring Back Hakeem Nicks Next Season?

One of the biggest question marks surrounding the Indianapolis Colts next season is the wide receiver position. 

Though some would say that the strength of the Colts has been and is the skill position players (a questionable stance after seeing the Colts get bullied in the AFC Championship Game), the reality is that the Colts are incredibly thin. With Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks hitting free agency, Trent Richardson disappointing and Ahmad Bradshaw and Dan Herron also being free agents, Indianapolis currently is looking at T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and Zurlon Tipton as the only significant skill players to return. 

That's a problem, especially when you have the premier young quarterback of the era at your disposal. Luck and the Colts managed to have a fantastic year where they ranked third offensively in total yards and sixth in total points, but without a boost in talent, that could slip significantly in 2015. 

Newly signed Duron Carter will help, especially if he's as good as the Colts think he is. 

Still, with Carter and Moncrief as the second and third receivers, the Colts have a very young, developmental group. Neither Moncrief or Carter are sure to develop, and we could be looking at a very inconsistent group, something that cost them against the Patriots.

Without a viable threat opposite Hilton, the Patriots were able to shut down the receivers with ease, and the Colts were limited to just seven points in their final game. Sure, the defense did little to help, and the Patriots could tee off on Luck and the passing game for the majority of the context, but the Colts simply cannot win when the offense only scores once. 

So what to do? 

There are a number of options.

The team could draft a receiver in the middle-to-high rounds for the second year in a row, bringing in more long-term talent. This seems unlikely to me, given the youth they already possess and the need to get them all on the field in order to develop.

The team could sit back and do little, maybe drafting a WR/KR type late in the draft or signing a few UDFAs to compete with Griff Whalen for the final two side receiver spots. This might include bringing Reggie Wayne back for a final season, although it was difficult to watch his quick decline during the back half of 2014. 

Or, the team could sign a veteran receiver in free agency, somebody to give the Colts a bit more experience in the WR room while also giving Hilton somebody who can make plays opposite him if Moncrief or Carter are not as prepared to take on a starting role as hoped. 

This is where Hakeem Nicks could come in. 

Player	Snaps	Targets	Catches	Yards
Hakeem Nicks Wk 1-14	512	51	26	287
Reggie Wayne Wk 1-14	810	108	59	665
Hakeem Nicks Wk 15-AFCCG	150	25	18	216
Reggie Wayne Wk 15- AFCCG	203	13	6	116

Over the final six weeks of the season, Nicks began to come on in a reserve role. Don't get me wrong, Nicks was a disappointment from a production standpoint all year, but he managed to come up with some big plays down the stretch, more than somebody like Reggie Wayne was able to, for example. 

On one hand, that improvement down the stretch is impressive for Nicks, as depressing as it was for Wayne. 

Nicks never did improve at getting separation in man coverage, but he did get a bit better rhythm with Andrew Luck as the season went on, and he still uses his size and hands well in contested catch scenarios. 

This ability to make contested catches is one that shouldn't be overlooked. Size and the ability to use it well is something that the Colts haven't had at the wide receiver position in years, and Nicks adds something to the receiver group. However, with the addition of Carter (6'5") and the development of Moncrief (6'2"), size isn't exactly missing in Indianapolis now. The ability to use that height and take advantage of it, however, is yet to be seen. 

The other thing to think about is the use of the tight ends. 

In Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener, the Colts have two more big bodies, with experience, that can play the possession role when it comes to contested catches. Usually the benefit you get with a wide receiver in the possession role is the ability to create space with defenders, making an easier throw for quarterbacks and a chance of yards after the catch. 

With Nicks, that option isn't really on the table, and since he's not a big threat down the field any more, his effectiveness is downsized. 

What the Colts could really use is a more prototypical slot receiver, a Wes Welker, Austin Collie-type. Somebody that could exploit the defense down the seam and find space between linebackers for quick yards after the catch. Ideally this would be somebody with decent quickness, although not necessarily elite top speed. A precise route-runner with good hands would go a long way in the Colts offense. 

That doesn't really fit Nicks' profile. The only places Nicks wins is at the catch point and occasionally at the line of scrimmage. 

So, no, Nicks isn't the perfect fit for the Colts from a skill set standpoint. But there are other factors. 

Cost is one. While Nicks won't be as cheap as, say, an undrafted free agent or mid/late-round rookie, he should be relatively easy on the wallet. Nicks signed a one-year, $3.5 million "prove it" contract last year, and it's hard to see that number going anywhere but down after a 38-catch, 405-yard year. 

Another is familiarity with the Colts and their offensive system. It often takes free agents time to become comfortable in a new system and situation, a rough initial year followed by effective seasons is not uncommon. Now, Nicks doesn't seem like he's ready to bounce back with a huge year, but it does stand to reason that a new signing would have a bit of a transition period. 

In the end, it all depends on what Nicks' role would feasibly be in Indianapolis. If the Colts are looking for a possession receiver to play consistent snaps and give the team more YAC potential in the middle of the field, they are better off going to free agency or the draft (or hoping Carter can make a big impact in the first year).

If they can accept him for solid depth, locker-room presence and a decent red-zone option for a good price, well, then they might just have something. He's not going to be one of the Colts' most important players if he's on the 2015 roster, but he's the kind of veteran presence that might be able to make some key plays in big moments down the stretch.

Kyle Rodriguez is Bleacher Report's lead featured columnist for the Indianapolis Colts. He is also the editor-in-chief of Colts Authority and Colts Academy and a PFWA Dick Connor Writing Award recipient. Follow him on Twitter for year-round Colts and NFL analysis.