INDIANAPOLIS --- Outside the frenzy of the first 48 hours of the free agency period, no signing generated more buzz for the Colts than wide receiver Duron Carter. The son of Hall of Famer Cris Carter comes in from the CFL, where he played with former NFL standout receiver Chad Ochocinco in Montreal.
But where will Carter fit into the Colts offense, as the offseason program is set to begin Monday, April 20th? That's the big question, and the Colts have tried to keep things in perspective when talking about the expectations for Carter, considering he hasn't been in the building yet to even get his picture taken for the roster. He will be an NFL rookie with a lot of work to do to first make the team and then maybe make an impact on the field.
"Again, Duron hasn't played a snap for us or anybody in the National Football League," said Head Coach Chuck Pagano at the NFL Annual Meeting in March. "We are getting a big athletic guy that has the bloodlines if you will. He's going to have an opportunity to come in and compete and try to make our 53-man roster."
The upside is there. Carter is listed at 6'5" and 205 pounds, the tallest wide receiver on the Colts roster by two inches over veteran Andre Johnson. His former general manager in the CFL told Colts.com in February Carter is as talented as any wide receiver in the NFL Draft this year. Considering that includes likely top-20 overall picks Amari Cooper, Kevin White, and DeVante Parker, that's a big compliment.
Colts UpClose Analyst and former Colts quarterback Jim Sorgi also shared his thoughts on Duron Carter as an offseason sleeper:
"A 4th wide receiver. Last year, Donte Moncrief made a big splash on (the Colts) offense. He was behind T.Y. (Hilton), Reggie (Wayne), and Hakeem (Nicks). He ends up being the number two guy (at the end of the year), so to speak. So I think Duron, I don't know if he's going to emerge like that, but I think he can definitely spell those guys. Maybe four wide receiver sets, become a guy in the red zone. I think he's going to make an impact on the 53 (man roster)."
There's a lot to like about the guy who had more than 1,900 yards and 12 touchdowns the past two seasons in the NFL, but it's a loaded receiving corp again for the Colts in 2015 (not to mention the tight ends).
However, Duron Carter certainly qualifies as an offseason sleeper to keep an eye on for the boys in blue.
