Duron Carter Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent WR

Duron Carter followed the initial path his legendary father, Cris Carter, took to college, playing at Ohio State as a freshman. Duron Carter didn't stay the course, though, and academic apathy stunted his gridiron growth.   

Now the young, immensely talented Carter, fresh off a 1,000-yard season with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, appears ready to make the leap to the National Football League.

According to Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports, Carter will sign with an NFL team "soon." As many as 15 teams are interested in acquiring the 6'5", 205-pound playmaker, per CBSSports.com's Larry Heartstein (h/t Yahoo Sports).

Edholm's report contains rather convincing testimony from Alouettes general manager Jim Popp, who praised Carter's skill set:

"

The first thing people would say about him was that he [was] not smart enough, which is why he [couldn't] stay in school. That's the exact opposite of the truth. He’s a very intelligent guy, probably borderline genius IQ.

[...] There's nothing he can't do. He has the wiggle of a smaller player, uncommon height for a receiver, and he begged to go in an play DB when we were short a few players there. He's just an insanely gifted competitor.

"

Carter acknowledged that he couldn't blame NFL teams for passing him up at first, after he'd left Ohio State, played at Coffeyville Community College (Kansas) but was academically ineligible for Alabama and Florida Atlantic.

"I wouldn't have taken a chance on me either," he said. "I would say I wasn't ready to come out. I just had no idea what it took and what it meant to be a professional athlete at all. I feel like I have started to accomplish that in Montreal."

Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot reports the Cleveland Browns are at least considering the possibility of adding Carter to the fold:

The Browns could use another bigger target on the outside to pair opposite Josh Gordon, what with a thin receiving corps of mostly diminutive pass-catchers on the current roster.

Carter revealed to Edholm that he's been in touch with the Browns, among a slew of other teams:

"

They've mostly been talking to my agent [Mitch Frankel] and my dad. December 1 was the first day I was able to make contact with teams officially. I got a call from the Browns; I talked to [GM] Ray Farmer, which was cool. A whole bunch of people have called me; I can't just say who all has. It has been crazy.

"

Bleacher Report AFC North Lead Writer Andrea Hangst weighed in on the potential Carter-Cleveland arrangement:

As is revealed in Edholm's report, Carter, 23, is rehabbing an ankle injury that forced him to miss four games this last season and caused his playing weight to go down from 215 pounds to 205 pounds.

Carter attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and he plans to host a pro day-esque workout there for NFL teams on Jan. 6, 7 or 8.

Year	Receptions	Yards	Average	TDs
2013	49	909	18.6	5
2014	75	1,030	13.7	7

Among the other teams reportedly interested in Carter, per Heartstein, are the Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers. As intriguing as it would be to see Carter catch passes from a prolific quarterback like Andrew Luck as a member of Indy's top-ranked passing attack, the Colts have plenty of weapons as is.

The more intriguing fit among that trio might be Seattle, where Carter—presuming he has the football IQ Popp implies—could contribute right away, provided he picks up the offense and has the skills to be an NFL receiver.

That so many suitors—almost half the league—are reportedly lining up to inquire about Carter suggests he can indeed make an impact. Having such a strong football pedigree also doesn't hurt, but Carter has a lot to prove if he's meant to make a big splash in what will be a huge step up in competition.