Quick Reaction: CFL Star Duron Carter Reportedly Joins Colts

The Indianapolis Colts made their 1st big player personnel move of the offseason, when it was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and CBS Sports Jason La Canfora, that CFL star wideout Duron Carter had reached an agreement with the team Tuesday evening:

The Colts were always viewed as a serious favorite for signing Duron Carter and later a “frontrunner“. However, there was always the fear that he could follow in his Hall of Fame father’s footsteps, Cris Carter, and sign with the Minnesota Vikings, a serious suitor and an organization that he was presumably very familiar with. While his father spent 12 years with the Vikings, he likely also understood as a 16-year NFL veteran, the greater importance of his son playing with a great young quarterback in the Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck for his long-term success then attempt at past tradition.

HAMILTON, ON – NOVEMBER 23: Duron Carter #89 of the Montreal Alouettes is brought down by Craig Butler #28 of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during the CFL football Eastern Conference Final at Tim Hortons Field on November 23, 2014 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The Tiger-Cats defeated the Alouettes 40-24. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Credit: Claus Andersen / stringer

With both Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks as impending free agents, there could be an opportunity next season for significant playing time at the top of the Colts’ wide receiver pecking order, especially if Carter is as good as initially advertised. Wayne is clearly slowing down and is in the twilight of his career and could ultimately choose to retire, while it’s unclear whether the team desires to re-sign Nicks, who was up-and-down this past season but reportedly would like to return.

However, between the trio of T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, and now Duron Carter, the Colts have a talented young core of wide receivers to surround Andrew Luck with for the foreseeable future and a great foundation to build upon.

At 6’5″, 205 pounds, the younger Carter isn’t just a “chip off the old block”, he’s a bigger block all together. He’ll give the Colts wide receiver group a big target for Andrew Luck and a potential “jump ball” threat in the end zone that they previously didn’t possess. When paired with the 6’6″ Coby Fleener at tight end, the Colts offense now has a lot of height to work with.

Last season, while playing for the Montreal Alouettes “North of the Border” in the CFL, Carter had 75 receptions for 1,030 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. His signing is almost the equivalent of getting an additional high round draft pick, as there’s clearly a lot of talent and potential with him at the still very young age of 23.

It’s uncertain of whether Carter’s signing is both the beginning and end of the Colts looking to upgrade the wide receiver position or whether they’ll look to bring in another wideout through either the NFL Draft or free agency. However, as La Canfora mentioned, Carter’s signing likely won’t be officially announced until some time in early February.