NFL Mock Draft: Patriots to select Leonte Carroo?
If you keep up with mock drafts, you probably have been following what the guys over at SB Nation have been doing lately. Earlier today, my co-editor Cyrus Geller noted that they had the Patriots taking wideout Sterling Shepard at No. 60. In this article, we’re going to debate about Dan Kadar pegging Leonte Carroo going to the Patriots at No. 61.
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As Kadar acknowledges, the Patriots will almost certainly trade out of one of these selections because they currently don’t have a pick between rounds three and six. Yes, the Patriots have two picks in the third round and a hefty four in the sixth, but still, that’s a long stretch to go in the draft without getting a turn.
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And of course, mock drafts are complete shots in the dark, and that is made very clear by the fact that the authors have the Patriots selecting two wide receivers in a row. There’s really only room for one draft pick on the wide receiver depth chart, and plus, the Patriots would never load up that much on one position with back-to-back picks. This team needs depth elsewhere, too.
That all being said, this writer is a huge fan of Carroo. If the Patriots emerged out of the 2016 NFL Draft with Carroo in their wheelbarrow, no one in New England would complain.
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Look, Carroo was one of college football’s best wideouts over the past few years, racking up 1,895 yards and 20 touchdowns on 94 receptions. He may be a hair over 6-foot, but Carroo plays like a 6-foot-4 wideout with the way he uses his muscular frame, body control and athleticism.
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Carroo would fit very well in New England, especially considering the fact that Bill Belichick loves to draw from the Rutgers pipeline of pro-ready prospects. He wouldn’t have to shoulder a huge load, as the Patriots have Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola and others, but Carroo would have the opportunity to beat-out Aaron Dobson for a roster spot and eventually prove his worth in live action.
In fact, the Patriots would be better off taking Carroo over Shepard should both still be available at No. 60 (or No. 61 if the Pats have traded away that pick).
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What do you think? Shepard or Carroo?