Dolphins Draft History: Leonte Carroo
Leading up to the draft, we’ll take a look back on some of the more notable picks of the Dolphins in recent years. In 2016, Miami traded up into the third round to select WR Leonte Carroo.
With Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker, and Kenny Stills already on the team, wide receiver appeared to be the last thing we expected the Miami Dolphins to take in the 2016 NFL Draft. That did not stop them, however, from making a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to move back up into the third round to select one.
After selecting Kenyan Drake with the 73rd overall pick, we all assumed that the Dolphins Day 2 was complete, but we we’re mistaken. Miami inked the trade with the Vikings to get their 86th overall selection, and sending them their 2016 sixth-round pick (186th overall), along with their third and fourth round picks in 2017. It sure seemed like a lot for Miami to give up just to get back in the third round, but what was truly puzzling is that they did it to take a wide receiver.
Little was known of Leonte Carroo at the time because he was not able to do many of the workouts leading up to the draft due to an ankle injury. Fast forward two years, and it’s still puzzling as to why Miami made the trade at all. The Dolphins could have used that sixth-round pick they gave up to take Carroo, and it still would have probably been labeled a bust pick, although not as drastic.
In two seasons, Carroo has just 10 receptions for 98 total yards, and a touchdown. There are a bunch of guys in the league that have surpassed that in just one game multiple times in their careers. Jakeem Grant, who Miami selected in the sixth round that same year, has had a much better career to start.
The Dolphins didn’t have many selections to begin with in 2016 so it does make you wonder what the fascination over Carroo was that made them want to trade up and get him. A run on wide receivers did not go off after Carroo was taken. The next one taken was Chris Moore to Baltimore (107th overall). To make matters worse, Tyreek Hill fell all the way to the fifth round (165th overall) where Kansas City gladly took him. In 2017, the Vikings traded the third round pick they acquired from Miami to the Chiefs, where they took – you guessed it, Kareem Hunt.
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Heading into 2018, Carroo still maintains a roster spot, but for how long? Miami traded away Jarvis Landry to the Browns, but they also added Albert Wilson and Danny Amendola in free agency. Both players may play primarily in the slot, but Carroo could be the odd man out this year, and is not guaranteed a final 53-man roster spot.
The Dolphins drafted Isaiah Ford with their final selection in 2017. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve, but Miami seems to be high on him. Grant continues to improve his game as well, and is the fastest guy on the team. And although we don’t fully expect Miami to take a wide receiver in the draft, they’ve done exactly that every year for the past four seasons so it’s not out of the realm they do it again.
With Landry out of the picture, Carroo needs to step up in a major way or he’s going to find himself on the open market as well. As it stands, this is one of the biggest busts the Dolphins have made in the past decade. With hope, maybe Carroo can turn it around, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Miami decides to cut their losses with him by September.