Some action ahead of the 2025 NFL trade deadline!
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter revealed that the New York Jets traded cornerback Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for wide receiver John Metchie III and a 2027 sixth-round pick.
Jets Move up a Round and Add an Intriguing Dart Throw
Metchie, 25, entered the NFL as the No. 44 overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft. He is scheduled to be a restricted free agent in 2026.
Metchie has appeared in 36 games during his career and has made three starts. He has registered 44 receptions for 430 receiving yards and has scored one touchdown.
Months after being drafted, Metchie announced that he would miss his entire rookie season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Before joining the pros, Metchie spent three seasons at Alabama. During that run, Metchie put up 155 receptions for 2,081 receiving yards and scored 14 touchdowns. In his final collegiate season, Metchie set new career highs in catches (96), yards (1,142), and touchdowns (eight).
It All Fell Apart so Quickly for Carter and the Jets
13 months ago, the Jets made Carter the highest-paid slot defender in NFL history. He inked a three-year $30.75 million contract.
It was one of the great draft success stories for the Jets. Carter, 26, entered the league as the No. 154 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Carter played safety at Duke, but the Jets immediately converted him to the nickel position. Carter flourished in the Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich scheme.
A flurry of injuries last year and a scheme change this year totally changed things for Carter. In the middle of the season, the Jets traded for cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr in a deal with the Tennessee Titans.
It didn’t take long for Brownlee to take Carter’s job, and the writing was on the wall. The former Duke product cleared the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol and barely played (eight snaps) in Week 8.
Carter no longer had a role on the Jets, so they dumped some salary and sent him on his way.
Top Social Media Reactions to This Jets-Eagles Trade
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter posted, “Joe Douglas, who drafted Michael Carter II while GM of the New York Jets, is now working with the Philadelphia Eagles front office.”
“The Jets saw Carter as expendable with the addition of Jarvis Brownlee, Jr. Carter is signed through 2027, with $20.3M remaining on his deal, but only $2.3M is [guaranteed],” ESPN’s Rich Cimini explained.
“As for John Metchie: He hasn’t played much for the Eagles (four catches for 18 yards) but the Jets desperately need to take swings at WR. Minus Garrett Wilson, it’s a group that needs talent in a bad way. He’s only 25 and will be a free agent at the end of the year. He’ll get playing time with the Jets,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic wrote.
He hasn’t played much for the Eagles (four catches for 18 yards) but the Jets desperately need to take swings at WR. Minus Garrett Wilson, it’s a group that needs talent in a bad way.
He’s only 25 and will be a free agent at the end of the year. He’ll get
“Remember talking to people at the NFL Combine who had preliminary FA talks with Jets. One told me he got [the] sense this staff wasn’t as high on Michael Carter as the last one. Not an indictment on MC. Normal for [a] new regime. Pretty clear they weren’t going to pay Carter after this season (cut). This came together as a win-win for all parties. Eagles get a good nickel corner, Jets get a WR for their depleted room & cash/cap flexibility moving forward,” NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY explained.
Not an indictment on MC. Normal for new regime. Pretty clear they weren’t going to pay Carter after this
Jets Trade $30 Million Veteran for 25-Year-Old Eagles Pass Catcher