One of the surprise draft picks a year ago for the Miami Dolphins was third-round selection Leonte Carroo.

Miami traded its sixth-round pick last year and third- and fourth-round picks this year in order to move up to select Carroo. That was a hefty bounty and showed how much the Dolphins valued the former Rutgers receiver.

With that in mind, Carroo’s rookie season was a disappointment. He recorded just three receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown. He was mostly the fourth -- and sometime fifth -- receiver in a position group that's already deep for Miami. And with veteran receiver Kenny Stills re-signing with the Dolphins this offseason, Carroo is not projected to get much playing time once again in 2017.

Still, Dolphins head coach Adam Gase is confident Carroo can make a quality jump in Year 2.

“I do think we can [get him better],” Gase said last week at the NFL owners meetings. “He did a lot of good things early in the season. I think as the year went on it was tough. When DeVante [Parker] came back, [Carroo] was less involved.”

Gase also took some of the blame for Carroo’s rookie struggles. Gase, who was a first-year head coach, admitted he may have asked Carroo to do too much too soon as the backup for all three receiver spots.

“I think sometimes I personally lose track when a guy is your fourth/fifth receiver,” Gase admitted. “The reason why they’re in that spot is either they’re behind really good players and they’re probably a little more limited as far as what you want to do.”

Carroo must stay ready, despite once again starting the upcoming season further down the depth chart. He is expected to be the first receiver off the bench in the event Stills, Parker or two-time Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry get injured.

Carroo certainly does not lack confidence. He said last year that he believed he was the best receiver in the draft. But Carroo must get on the field more to prove his skills.

“When you got a guy that is smart, extremely hard worker and he does have the desire to be a guy that ends up starting for us at some point in his career,” Gase said. “That’s a tough lineup to crack. But the fact that’s his mindset, I feel like we have a great opportunity to get him better this year.”