Dolphins camp preview: Leonte Carroo
In our latest Dolphins preview leading up to and into training camp, we’ll take a look at one Dolphin on the bubble to make this year’s 53-man roster, Leonte Carroo.
Here at PhinPhanatic we’ll run down a list of players this month with training camp just around the corner, and the preseason soon to follow. Our lead editor, Brian Miller, has already supplied some previews for players like Ryan Tannehill, DeVante Parker, rookie Mike Gesicki, and more.
Those players are imminent locks to make the team. I, on the other hand, want to try and turn my attention to some players that are on the bubble to make the final roster ahead of Week 1. No player on the bubble list comes to mind more than Leonte Carroo.
Dolphins fans were puzzled in 2016 when the team gave up so much to move up in the draft to select a wide receiver. Two seasons later, and fans are even further in disbelief as Carroo has been a major disappointment in his short career. Carroo has totaled just 10 catches for 98 yards and a touchdown for his career. Compare that to fan-favorite, Jakeem Grant, who Miami took in round 6 that season, and it looks even worse.
While Grant’s numbers may not be overly better than Carroo’s by a wide margin, he has secured the Dolphins return specialist duties, primarily because of his terrific speed, plus he showed some great upside in the second half of last season as a receiver. Grant’s effort since he was drafted has not gone unnoticed, and he’s made mention numerous times that he wants to be looked at more as a wide receiver, knowing he has to get better if that’s going to happen.
Carroo is a different story, however, and it’s unclear as to how much he really wants to continue playing. If he does, and if he wants to continue doing so in Miami, he’s going to have to show it on the field in the next few weeks. There are five imminent locks at wide receiver that the Dolphins will bring into Week 1, and that list includes Grant.
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Carroo, on the other hand, will have to fight it out for a potential 6th spot on the depth chart. Should Miami decide to carry six wide receivers, and I believe they will, Carroo would be considered a front-runner to land the final spot. He is not my favorite to take it, however. I believe that Isaiah Ford, the Dolphins 2017 seventh-round selection, will land it instead. Ford spent the 2017 season on injured-reserve, but the coaching staff has nothing but praise for him, and he seems to have more upside than Carroo at this stage. Others like Rashawn Scott and Malcolm Lewis will continue to fight for a roster spot as well.
My prediction for Carroo is that he will end up on the Jets at some point in the season, possibly even by Week 1. I think this year Miami rids their losses, and moves on from Carroo during the final cuts. I do not believe it will be the end of Carroo’s career in the NFL just yet as I’m sure there will be at least one team out there willing to take a chance on him.
Since division rivals often like to scoop up players from other teams, I could see the receiver-needy Jets swooping in to give Carroo a shot. The Patriots are always a team to consider too, but I don’t see Carroo as a Bill Belichick-type player.