Duron Carter, current wide receiver for the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes and son of former NFL great Cris Carter, appears ready to get his shot in the States in 2015. As Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes, Carter has emerged as a star in the CFL over the past several seasons and has led Montreal to an improbable berth in the league’s playoffs. Although the former top college recruit has dealt with myriad off-field issues and has therefore been forced to prove himself in Canada, he has apparently matured while playing north of the border and finally appears ready to capitalize on his tremendous potential.
At 6-5 and 205 pounds, Carter has tantalizing physical tools and caught 75 passes for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns in 2014 after a 2013 campaign that saw him average an astounding 19 yards per catch. La Canfora writes that at least 10 teams have interest in the 23-year-old but that the Colts are currently viewed as the frontrunner for his services. Although the 49ers and Seahawks are also seen as contenders, the impending departure of Reggie Wayne and Indianapolis’ history of gambling on wideouts with checkered pasts–combined with GM Ryan Grigson‘s willingness to take chances and connections with the CFL–point to the Colts as the most likely landing spot at the moment.
In a separate tweet, La Canfora notes that several GMs and scouts believe Carter can be a quality starter in 2015, though he must demonstrate that he has outgrown his previous maturity issues. NFL rules dictate that Carter can begin working out for and negotiating with NFL clubs on December 1, shortly after the CFL season ends, but he cannot officially sign with a team until February. With a thin wide receiver market and a draft class that is not nearly as deep at the wideout position as the historic 2014 group, there will be heavy competition for Carter as he looks to make a belated entrance into the league that his father once dominated.