Jets trade CB Michael Carter II to Eagles in exchange for WR John Metchie III

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Oct 29, 2025

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — Less than a week before the NFL trade deadline, the Jets have begun wheeling and dealing.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Jets traded cornerback Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for wide receiver John Metchie III and a 2027 sixth-round pick, according to a source.

Recently, Carter lost his starting nickel cornerback job to Jarvis Brownlee Jr., whom they acquired from the Titans on Sept. 23. Because of that, it was expected that they would move Carter, who has battled various injuries the last two seasons.

Carter, 26, agreed to eliminate the $5 million in guaranteed money in his 2026 contract year to join the Eagles, according to NFL Network.

“New York, I’m forever grateful,” Carter wrote in a post on X. "You changed my life so much love to all my dawgs in the building. Greatness is on the way.”

In the summer of 2024, then-Jets general manager Joe Douglas signed Carter to a three-year, $30.75 million extension, which at the time, made him the highest-paid slot corner in the league. But first, an ankle injury during training camp limited Carter throughout the early part of the 2024 season. Then, a herniated disc in his back kept Carter out three games.

When he returned to the Jets secondary, Carter did not resemble the player he had been before his injuries. In 13 games last season, Carter had 24 tackles and one pass defended.

Carter hoped he put his struggles behind him, but he struggled in Aaron Glenn/Steve Wilks’ new defensive scheme following a coaching change. He also missed several games after suffering a concussion in Week 4 against the Dolphins. In five games, Carter registered 14 tackles and two passes defended.

Now, Carter will be reunited with Douglas, the Eagles’ senior personnel director and the man who drafted him in the fifth round out of Duke in 2021.

After their offensive struggles, the Jets certainly needed to add wide receiver help, and Metchie potentially helped with that. He was a reserve receiver for the Eagles, and he has just four catches for 18 yards in seven games this season.

The Jets receiver corps has dealt with injuries over the last few weeks. Garrett Wilson missed the past two games because of a knee injury he suffered in London. Josh Reynolds was also put on injured reserve because of a hip injury. The only other receivers on the Jets roster are Tyler Johnson, Allen Lazard, Arian Smith and Isaiah Williams.

The Texans initially selected Metchie, 25, in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Alabama, but he was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, and sat out that entire year. He spent two seasons in Houston, mainly as a reserve player, registering 40 catches for 412 yards and a touchdown in 29 games.

In August, the Texans traded Metchie to the Eagles for tight end Harrison Bryant and a fifth-round draft pick.

In addition to his pass-catching ability, Metchie also provides special teams value as a returner. He recorded seven kickoff returns for 17.1 yards this year while in Philly.

Metchie is in the final year of his rookie contract, which pays him $1.8 million and will be a restricted free agent after this season. That means players can negotiate with other teams after their contract expires, but their original team can match any offer sheet or receive draft compensation if they don’t return.