New England Patriots: Austin Carr could be Danny Amendola’s successor
The New England Patriots passed on wide receivers in the 2017 NFL Draft. But could Austin Carr be Bill Belichick’s latest undrafted gem?
Danny Amendola. Chris Hogan. LeGarrette Blount. Malcolm Butler. All of those players have become NFL success stories with the New England Patriots as formerly undrafted players. So could 2017 undrafted free agent Austin Carr be the next in line to shine?
Consider this…
- Amendola scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns in Super Bowls XLIX and LI.
- Hogan had nine catches, 180 yards and two touchdowns in the 2016 AFC Championship game.
- Blount has scored eight postseason touchdowns and had a franchise-record 18 rushing touchdowns in 2016.
- Butler made arguably the greatest play in Super Bowl history with his game-saving interception in Super Bowl XLIX.
The Patriots are among the best at getting high-level production from lesser-known prospects. Whether it’s Julian Edelman, Dion Lewis, or any of the aforementioned undrafted standouts, New England — led by head coach Bill Belichick — certainly has an eye for diamonds in the rough.
Shortly after going undrafted in last month’s NFL draft, the former Northwestern wide receiver Carr inked a deal with the Patriots.
The Big Ten Receiver of the Year @ayeseeme has signed with the @Patriots. #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/v0VHqveQDT
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) April 30, 2017
Carr’s 90 catches, 1,247 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns, not only led the Big Ten but made him a finalist for the 2016 Biletnikoff Award.
His 6-foot-1, 194-pound frame resembles that of Chiefs’ receiver Jeremy Maclin, although Carr’s 6.72-sec 3-cone drill and 4.54-sec unofficial forty prove he’s quicker than he is fast.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said the following in Carr’s draft profile:
"“Highly competitive. Former walk-on with very good work ethic and confidence. Plays with toughness. Willing to make his mark over middle of the field. Extremely focused when ball is in the air. Snatches the ball out in front of his frame with strong hands.”"
Edelman and Amendola will be free agents following the 2017 season. While it’s the team’s choice whether or not to retain them, there’s no stopping father time. Although it seems crazy, the Patriots have already begun rebuilding their offense. Brandin Cooks and Malcolm Mitchell are New England’s answer to an aging wide receiver corps. Maybe Carr could be groomed into a viable slot option down the road.
First of all, Carr will need to earn himself a spot on a roster already littered with proven wide receivers. Throughout camp, he’ll likely compete with 2016 seventh-round pick Devin Lucien for the final wide receiver spot or a job on the practice squad. New England kept Lucien on the practice squad for the entirety of last season, which figures to give him an advantage in regards to knowing the playbook. The same could be done with Carr to help get him acquainted with the system. However, that does open up the possibility of another team picking him up.
The Patriots obviously see talent in Carr, and his production doesn’t lie. If he earns a spot on the 2017 roster, his role will likely be limited. But with good coaching under Belichick’s staff and a year of preparation, Carr could go from a long-shot camp body to a postseason playmaker.
Austin Carr – Northwestern Highlight Video (2017 NFL Draft Prospect) from Cameron Good on Vimeo.