Dolphins trade up for receiver Leonte Carroo

The Miami Dolphins weren’t done on Friday night trading back into the third round to draft Rutgers receiver Leonte Carroo.

More from Dolphins Draft

When the Dolphins drafted running back Kenyan Drake in the third round many, including your’s truly, believed that the draft for the night was over. That wasn’t the case at all. Miami traded back into the 3rd round to the 86th spot to take receiver Leonte Carroo. Carroo was a standout receiver at Rutgers who is physical against big defenders.

The move for Miami was a costly one. Not having a 4th round pick, the Dolphins dipped in to their 2017 draft pool to move up. Miami gave up a 6th round pick this year, a 3rd round pick next year and a 4th round pick next year. The Dolphins are expected to have several compensatory picks in the 2017 draft including selections in both the 3rd and 4th rounds.

Some are calling the selection a “steal”.

Carroo hauled in 10 touchdowns in 2015 for Rutgers and is being compared as a combination of Marvin Harrison and Anquan Boldin. He has a lot of confidence in his ability and has very good hands. The Dolphins are expecting him to compete for playing time immediately and his physical play rivals that of Jarvis Landry.

Not the fastest receiver in the draft, Carroo dropped because while he is physical, he tends to get locked at the line of scrimmage that could hinder his route progression. Something he will need to work on this off-season. When he is able to create space, Carroo is a go-to receiver that should take pressure off Landry and De’Vante Parker on the outside. The Dolphins were not expected to draft a receiver this year as they have a deep unit.

Kenny Stills however is on the final year of his rookie contract and it’s unlikely that the Dolphins will bring him back in 2017. If he has a breakout season he will command more money and if he doesn’t he may not have the value to retain. Carroo is the insurance policy that could pay off big for the Dolphins.

Of course the amount it cost Miami to move back in action to draft his has some scratching their heads. Carroo however seems to fit with the offense that Adam Gase is installing. While he may struggle off the line in press coverage and lacks the deep speed that Stills has, there is a lot of upside to Carroo who will benefit from next level coaching. General manager Chris Gries had this to say about the Dolphins new wideout.

"“He was the best player available,” Grier said. “He was a target. He’s a highly competitive player. He’s been a good player there for Rutgers. He kind of fills a need. This guy checked a lot of boxes.”“This was a player we held in high regard,” Grier said. “The opportunity to get someone who can contribute right away on the field as a receiver and on special teams, this is a guy we’re really high on.”"

Carroo will also compete for playing time as a returner which will keep Jarvis Landry out of that duty. The Dolphins will enter day three with a 5th round pick and two 7th round selections but Miami could try and move back into the 4th round and apparently are not concerned about using future picks to do it. The Dolphins have drafted three players thus far that they held visits with.

Home/Dolphins Draft