The Philadelphia Eagles have bolstered their cornerback lineup by trading for Michael Carter II from the New York Jets. The deal, finalized on October 25, 2023, involves the Eagles sending wide receiver John Metchie III and a sixth-round draft pick in 2027 to New York in exchange for Carter and a seventh-round pick in the same year.
Carter’s acquisition comes at a pivotal moment for the Eagles, who have experienced challenges in their secondary. While they feature standout young corners like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, the team has struggled to find stability at the third cornerback position. Both Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo have had inconsistent performances opposite Mitchell. Additionally, the Eagles had previously acquired Jakorian Bennett from the Las Vegas Raiders, but he has been sidelined with a pectoral injury for most of the season.
Carter, selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, has developed into one of the league’s highest-paid slot corners, signing a three-year contract extension worth $30.75 million in 2024. His current contract runs through 2027 and totals $20.3 million, though only $2.7 million is guaranteed. Carter’s remaining base salary for this season is $1.3 million, with a partial guarantee of $1.4 million in 2026. Should he remain on the roster next March, an additional $4 million becomes guaranteed.
It’s currently unclear if the Jets have absorbed any portion of Carter’s salary as part of the trade. The cornerback has faced injury setbacks in recent seasons, missing four games last year due to a back injury, and sitting out three games this year with a concussion. He returned to action against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday but only participated in six defensive snaps. During his absence, Jarvis Brownlee, Jr. emerged as a preferred option for the Jets’ coaching staff due to his physical tackling style.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio acknowledged the possibility of moving DeJean to the outside to fill the void left by Carter’s slot specialization. Fangio remarked, “We considered it, but when you have one of the better players at a certain position…you hate to take a really good player at one position to maybe not be as good of a player or impactful of a player at another position. But it’s definitely something that we’ve talked about.”
Metchie’s move to the Jets rounds out a tumultuous season for the receiver, who has only managed four catches for 18 yards this year. He was acquired by the Eagles in a mid-August trade with the Houston Texans for tight end Harrison Bryant and a fifth-round draft pick. Metchie will now join a Jets receiving corps that has been hit hard by injuries. With Garrett Wilson missing two games due to a knee injury and starter Josh Reynolds recently placed on injured reserve with a hip issue, the Jets have been relying on a mix of inexperienced players and veteran presence.
This trade may also signal a shift in the Jets’ receiving strategy, as veteran receiver Allen Lazard has reportedly been the subject of trade discussions. The dynamics within the Jets’ offense may evolve as they integrate Metchie into the lineup, potentially leading to a more dynamic passing game as the season progresses.
