Colts Favorites to Sign CFL Star Duron Carter

Jun 26, 2014; Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Duron Carter poses for a photo. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

According to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora, the Indianapolis Colts are the favorites to sign Canadian Football League Star Duron Carter, who is a wideout for the Montreal Alouettes.

Of course, Duron Carter is most known for being the son of former Minnesota Viking and Hall of Famer Cris Carter, a receiving star in his own right. At a listed 6’5″, 205 pounds, the younger Carter is even a bigger chip off the old block.

Still only 23, Duron Carter has never lacked the talent and ability that is well-apparent in his bloodlines and on film. Per La Canfora, he finished 11th in the CFL with 1,030 yards and also caught 75 passes with seven touchdowns, averaging a staggering 19 yards a catch. Rather, it’s always been his maturity that has been his greatest undoing:

"“It took a series of wasted opportunities for Carter to end up in Montreal. A prized prospect out of Ft. Lauderdale, rated as one of the top 10 receivers in the country, he attended Alabama and Florida Atlantic but never played there, though he did play briefly at Ohio State as well as a community college. He was ruled academically ineligible several times and was suspended for spring practice one year while at Alabama. His off-field issues resulted in him not being drafted in 2013, and after a few NFL tryouts he signed a two-year contract with Montreal, a perennial contender in the CFL that has developed many NFL players over the years (former Montreal coach Marc Trestman now coaches the Bears and former NFL standout Chad Johnson is one of Carter’s teammates on the team).”"

However, Carter has apparently “grown up” now and as many as 10 teams are interested in his services with the Colts being the favorites per La Canfora:

"“While there are no shortage of teams very interested in him (sources said the Seahawks and 49ers are likely to be among his other suitors), numerous sources continued to point to the Colts as a team looking to make an immediate impression with him. Veteran receiver Reggie Wayne is a free agent at season’s end, the team has been willing to gamble on receivers with red flags and character issues several times – with minimal success – but aggressive young general manager Ryan Grigson is not afraid to take chances, he has extensive connections in the CFL (he worked for three years for Saskatchewan of the CFL) and the Colts have been closely monitoring Carter for quite some time.”"

Of course, Colts’ GM Ryan Grigson has already struck gold with former CFL star and current starting linebacker, Jerrell Freeman, signing him from north of the border in 2012. Rolling the dice on a talented playmaker like Carter seems like another low risk, high reward move.

At the very least, it appears as though he would provide quality depth at the wide receiver spot just like Henoc Muamba, also a former CFL star, has as a back-up inside linebacker this season. If he becomes a headache, then you get rid of him. Just as we saw the Colts do with talented, yet troubled wideout Da’Rick Rogers, who was quickly released this September after a DUI arrest.

The Colts may very well have some openings at the wide receiver position next season. With Reggie Wayne a free agent after this season and in the twilight of his career and Hakeem Nicks on just a 1-year “prove it” deal, the Colts could need an infusion of talent and youth at the position. While rookie Donte Moncrief appears set for an expanded role in 2015, adding a talented young wideout like Duron Carter to the equation certainly couldn’t hurt, especially with a thin 2015 free agent wide receiver group.

It’s definitely a situation well-worth monitoring, and it will likely pick-up as soon as the NFL writes its memo granting teams the permission to bid for Duron Carter’s services which appears imminent.

Aug 3, 2013; Canton, OH, USA; Cris Carter (right) poses with his son Duron Carter and the bust of the elder Carter at the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Duron Carter #89 of the Montreal Alouettes runs with the ball after a missed tackle by Dexter McCoil #45 of the Edmonton Eskimos during the CFL game at Percival Molson Stadium on August 8, 2014 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

(August 7, 2014 – Source: Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images North America)