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Leonte Carroo knows he’s not in an easy situation.
The offseason is a time for confessions. Leonte Carroo's? He went in the tank early last year when he didn't earn a significant role.
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) June 7, 2017
Early on, he didn’t know it. Now he does.
As tough as it’ll be to garner significant snaps, injuries are the great mitigator and equalizer across the NFL landscape. An injury to Kenny Stills, Jarvis Landry, or DeVante Parker might beckon Carroo’s call. What are the chances all 3 WR’s stay healthy all year? An impossible question to answer, but I’ve watched enough football to know depth is important for a reason.
Carroo was involved in 68 passing snaps last year, 30 of those coming in the Week 1 contest vs. the Seattle Seahawks (DeVante Parker out). 10 of the 17 games during the 2016 NFL regular season and Playoffs, Carroo didn’t run a route. Will he be ready to step in if the situation calls for it?
Leonte Carroo, 6’0”, 217
Game Tape - #88
Working from the near slot. Creates admirable separation in the red zone. You can tell he’s confident in measuring up strength-wise. Not afraid of the contact, and uses the secondary’s own momentum against him with a subtle nudge.
Near side of the field vs. Richard Sherman. Again, Carroo is not afraid to be physical.
The TD that gave the Dolphins the lead vs. the San Francisco 49ers. A quick out, uses the stiff arm, the initial jolt allows Carroo to carry the defender into the end zone. I’d pay $20 to watch Carroo and Popeye in an arm wrestling contest.
Why He Might Succeed
Players far and wide get unexpected opportunities. Injuries are the nature of the beast in the NFL, and the catapult in snaps from #4 to #3 in the rotation is enormous.
There’s also the idea that the Miami Dolphins front office weren’t idiots last year in their evaluation of Leonte Carroo leading into the draft. His college curriculum vitae speaks for itself.
Why He Might Not
The depth chart is an obstacle if everyone stays healthy, and there are some sleeper WR candidates, including the 2017 NFL 7th round draft pick Isaiah Ford.
Odds of Making Roster
88%. Put it this way, if we release him 1 year after trading up to get him, it’ll be for a damned good reason.