Pre-draft Considered to be one of the top wide receivers available in the
2009 NFL draft, Nicks drew comparisons to
Hines Ward and
Anquan Boldin.
Butch Davis, Nicks' coach at North Carolina, went even further, comparing him to Hall of Famer
Michael Irvin.
New York Giants (first stint) parade in 2012 with
Victor Cruz. The
New York Giants, in need to replace wide-out
Plaxico Burress, selected Nicks in the first round, 29th overall. Nicks was the fifth wide receiver taken in the draft, and one out of six taken in the first round alone. On August 1, 2009, Nicks signed a five-year, $12.54 million contract. The deal includes a $6.5 million signing bonus. During training camp, Nicks vied for a starting position with the Giants' other wide receivers, most notably
Domenik Hixon and
Steve Smith, and Hakeem Nicks had the best overall average of all these wide receivers with a 16.0 average. Nicks made his first career NFL reception on September 13, 2009, against the
Washington Redskins on wide receiver screen pass for 11 yards. On October 4, 2009, against the
Kansas City Chiefs, Nicks recorded his first touchdown reception on a 54-yard
screen pass. For the next four games, Nicks would score a touchdown pass in each, becoming the first Giants rookie to score touchdowns in four consecutive games since
Bob Gaiters, who scored in five straight games in . However,
Odell Beckham Jr. broke that record. On the strength of that feat, Nicks was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month. Nicks ended the season starting in the #2 wide receiver spot opposite
Steve Smith after an injury to
Domenik Hixon in Week 2 and outperforming
Mario Manningham as of Week 14. He finished his rookie season with 47 receptions for 790 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. He had two games on the season going over the 100-yard mark. During Week 5, when New York visited Houston, Nicks exploited the NFL's 29th ranked secondary and more specifically Texans rookie cornerback
Kareem Jackson as he reeled in career highs with 12 catches (tying a franchise record) for 130 yards. In addition, Nicks caught two touchdown passes on the day from quarterback
Eli Manning. In Week 7 against the
Dallas Cowboys, he had nine receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the 41–35 victory. In Week 9 against the
Seattle Seahawks, he had six receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown in the 41–7 victory. Nicks was inactive for the final game of the season in Washington due to a broken toe in his left foot. On the year, he recorded 1,052 yards on 79 receptions, and was fourth in the NFL with 11 receiving touchdowns. Nicks opened the 2011 season, his third, with seven receptions for 122 yards in a loss to
Washington, followed three weeks later with 10 receptions for a career-best 162 yards and a touchdown against
Arizona in the Giants' third-straight win. Nicks remained one of the few bright spots in the Giants' subsequent 2–5 slump, averaging 73 yards per game and recording four touchdowns. In Week 13, he had two receiving touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers in a 38–35 loss. In Week 14 at
Dallas, Nicks again had a career-best 163 yards on ten receptions in a pivotal 37–34 win. In the 2011 season, Nicks had his second straight 1,000+ yard receiving season. He caught 76 passes for 1,192 yards (15.7 yards per catch average) and seven touchdowns, helping the Giants sneak into the playoffs at 9–7. In the Giants' historically improbable 2011 postseason, Nicks had the most prolific receiving statistics in franchise history. In the
Wild Card Round against the
Atlanta Falcons, Nicks recorded six receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns in the 24–2 victory. The following week against the top seeded 15–1
Green Bay Packers in the
Divisional Round, Nicks hauled in seven catches for 165 yards and two more touchdowns, including a 37-yard Hail Mary reception at the end of the first half. After 55 yards in the
NFC Championship win over
San Francisco, in
Super Bowl XLVI against the
New England Patriots Nicks was the leading receiver for the game with 10 receptions for 109 yards to help secure a 21–17 New York Giants victory. , Nicks' 2011 postseason numbers remain franchise records with 28 receptions for 444 yards (also most all-purpose yards) and 4 receiving touchdowns (also tied with
Joe Morris and
Brandon Jacobs for most total touchdowns). He also holds postseason career franchise records for most Yds/Rec with 15.86, Yds/Game with 111, most 100+ yard receiving games with 3, and along with
Amani Toomer is the only Giant with 2 games with 2+ TD scored. In Week 2 of the 2012 season, Nicks had ten receptions for 199 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 41–34 victory over the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the 2012 season, Nicks recorded 53 receptions for 692 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. In the 2013 season opener for the Giants, Nicks had five receptions for 114 yards against the
Dallas Cowboys. In Week 5 against the
Philadelphia Eagles, he had nine receptions for 142 yards. In Week 14 against the
San Diego Chargers, he had five receptions for 135 receiving yards. In the 2013 season, Nicks did not record a touchdown reception, but still finished with 896 receiving yards in 15 games played for the Giants. Nearing the trade deadline on October 29, there was speculation that the New York Giants were going to trade him. As the deadline passed, no deal was done and Nicks remained a Giant until his contract expired at the conclusion of the season, making him a free agent.
Indianapolis Colts On March 14, 2014, Nicks signed a one-year deal worth a maximum of $5.5 million with the
Indianapolis Colts. In the Colts' Week 17 game against the
Tennessee Titans, Nicks reached 5,000 receiving yards for his career. He finished the season with 38 receptions, 408 yards, and four touchdowns. Nicks scored a receiving touchdown in the Colts' 24–13 win over the
Denver Broncos in the
Divisional Round.
Tennessee Titans On April 24, 2015, Nicks signed a one-year deal with the
Tennessee Titans. Nicks was released by the Titans on September 5, 2015.
New York Giants (second stint) On November 17, 2015, Nicks returned to the Giants, signing a one-year deal. In six games, he recorded seven receptions for 54 yards.
New Orleans Saints Nicks signed a one-year contract with the
New Orleans Saints on July 27, 2016. On August 8, 2016, the Saints waived Nicks.
XFL Nicks participated in a tryout for the
XFL in June 2019. ==Career statistics==