Is Hakeem Nicks a Replacement for Marvin Harrison?

Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison were together since 1998, when Manning was drafted by the Colts with the 1^st pick overall. In their first year together, Manning finished with 3,739 yards, 26 TDs and 28 INTs, while Harrison ended the season with 776 yards. It would only take one year of playing together for Manning and Harrison to give the Indianapolis Colts one of the best offensive tandems in football.

From 1999 through 2006, Harrison would finish each season with over 1,000 yards and Peyton Manning would top the 4,000 yard mark every year except one. Thanks to the their young stars, the Colts would go from one of the worst teams in the league, to Super Bowl champs. Now, Harrison is gone and Manning, one of the best quarterbacks in the league, will be looking for new weapons.

Manning will now depend even more on Reggie Wayne, the former University of Miami star. Though Wayne has been the Colts' No. 1 receiver for the past couple of seasons and is definitely capable, the Colts must line up another competent receiver to prevent defenses from double covering Wayne. Hopefully, Anthony Gonzalez, the Colts 1^st round pick from 20007, can be a frequent target for Manning. In an effort to compensate for the loss of Harrison, the Colts may look to add another player for Manning to throw to.

The Colts hold pick No. 27 in this year's draft. Although it was obvious after last year's playoff loss to the Chargers, where Darren Sproles gained over 100 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, the Colts need help on the defensive line. However, if Hakeem Nicks is available, will the Colts be able to pass him up?

Nicks, the former Tar Heel, would be a perfect replacement for Marvin Harrison. Nicks even wore the same jersey number as Harrison, #88. The junior receiver finished the 2008 season with over 1,000 yards and a phenomenal bowl game, where he caught eight passes for 217 yards and 3 touchdowns. Watching footage of Nicks, it's clear he's not afraid to go over the middle; he can take a hit and he knows how to get open.

Whether Nicks is there for the Colts remains to be seen, but when the Colts take the field in 2009, it will be without two familiar faces of the franchise, Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison. How will Peyton Manning respond to not having Harrison on the field, or Dungy on the sideline?

Sources:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs2008/series?series=indsdg2008
http://www.nfl.com/teams/indianapoliscolts/statistics?season=1999&team=IND&seasonType=
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=283620153
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1998.htm