Michael Carter II Bio
Michael Carter II (born March 8, 1999) is an American professional football defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Duke Blue Devils and was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Listed at 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) and 184 lb (83 kg), Carter has been used primarily as a nickelback and safety throughout his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Michael Carter II was born on March 8, 1999, in Douglasville, Georgia, in the United States. He grew up in the Douglasville area and attended South Paulding High School, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete and drew early interest from college football programs. Coming out of high school, Carter was ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com, a recognition that reflected his projection as a developmental defensive back prospect.
On July 4, 2016, Carter committed to Duke University, choosing the Blue Devils over other scholarship offers. His commitment to an Atlantic Coast Conference program signaled the next step in his progression from a Georgia high school standout to a Power Five college cornerback.
Path to American Football
Carter enrolled at Duke in 2017 and spent four seasons with the Duke Blue Devils from 2017 through 2020, playing cornerback in the competitive ACC. His time at Duke allowed him to refine his coverage technique, football intelligence, and special teams value, all of which became key selling points for NFL evaluators.
Heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, Bleacher Report ranked Carter as the 34th best cornerback prospect in the class. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein projected him as a fifth-round pick, and most analysts placed him in the fifth-to-seventh-round range. Carter’s blend of size, character, and versatility made him a steady, if not flashy, prospect heading into the pre-draft process.
Michael Carter II Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
The New York Jets selected Michael Carter II in the fifth round, 154th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. The pick had previously been acquired in a trade that sent defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the New York Giants. Coincidentally, the Jets also drafted a different Michael Carter, a running back from rival North Carolina, in the fourth round of the same draft. On May 7, 2021, Carter signed a four-year, $3.80 million rookie contract that included an initial signing bonus of $328,927.
Head coach Robert Saleh named Carter the Jets’ starting nickelback as a rookie, and he finished the 2021 NFL season with 72 combined tackles (45 solo), five pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and one sack in 15 games and seven starts. He recorded his first career sack on Tom Brady during a Week 17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and earned an overall grade of 53.7 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 98th among 116 qualifying cornerbacks in 2021.
New York Jets Tenure (2021–2025)
Carter remained the Jets’ starting nickelback for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, lining up alongside cornerbacks D. J. Reed and Sauce Gardner. In 2022, he recorded his first career interception off Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett in Week 4 and added a second interception the following month against the New England Patriots. He finished the 2022 season with 63 combined tackles (50 solo), nine pass deflections, and two interceptions in 17 games and six starts, earning a 73.5 overall PFF grade that ranked 19th among 118 qualifying cornerbacks.
In 2023, Carter posted 50 combined tackles (37 solo) and nine pass deflections in 15 games and seven starts, finishing with an 80.4 overall PFF grade that ranked 12th among qualifying cornerbacks. On September 3, 2024, the Jets signed Carter to a three-year, $30.75 million contract extension with $13.61 million guaranteed and a $6.00 million signing bonus, making him the highest-paid slot cornerback in the NFL at the time. A back injury and the midseason firing of head coach Robert Saleh limited him to 24 combined tackles (20 solo), one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery in 13 games and one start in 2024.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2025–Present)
On October 29, 2025, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Jets in exchange for wide receiver John Metchie III and a 2027 sixth-round pick. The move gave Philadelphia a proven, high-volume slot defender in the middle of the season.
During the 2026 offseason, following the departure of starting safety Reed Blankenship in free agency, The Athletic’s Zach Berman reported that the Eagles were likely to move Carter to the safety position. As he transitions to a new role in Philadelphia’s secondary, Carter brings his contract, which runs through 2027 and is worth $30.75 million overall.
Driving Style and Strengths
Michael Carter II is widely regarded as a reliable, assignment-sound slot cornerback with strong instincts in zone coverage and a physical, willing presence in run support and on special teams. His football intelligence, versatility, and leadership have drawn praise from coaches throughout his career, and he is known for his competitiveness against tight ends and running backs in the short and intermediate areas of the field.
Notable Events and Milestones
Carter’s most notable milestones include being named the highest-paid slot corner in the NFL after his 2024 extension, recording his first career interception off Kenny Pickett in 2022, and being traded midseason to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025. His 80.4 PFF grade in 2023, which ranked 12th among qualifying cornerbacks, also stands as one of the strongest seasons of his career.
Michael Carter II Career Statistics
Across his NFL career with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles, Michael Carter II has totaled 233 combined tackles, 1.0 sack, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, and 26 pass deflections, as documented through the 2025 NFL season. He has appeared in regular-season games in every year since being drafted in 2021 and has been a full-time starter in the Jets’ secondary since his rookie season.
New York Jets Highlights
Carter spent his first four-plus NFL seasons with the Jets, starting 21 regular-season games from 2021 through 2024 and serving as the team’s primary nickelback. His top statistical season came in 2021, when he recorded 72 combined tackles and his first career sack on Tom Brady. In 2023, he earned an 80.4 overall PFF grade, ranking 12th among qualifying cornerbacks leaguewide.
Other Performances
Beyond his primary work as a slot corner, Carter has contributed on special teams and, at times, has been used as a safety in sub-packages. His 2022 interception off Kenny Pickett, which helped seal a Week 4 win over the Steelers, and his 2024 contract extension that made him the highest-paid slot corner in the league stand out as the defining moments of his time in New York.
Michael Carter II Family
Personal Life
Michael Carter II was raised in Douglasville, Georgia, and maintains ties to the region that produced him. Publicly available details about his parents, spouse, and children are limited, and he has kept his personal and family life largely private throughout his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Carter II began the 2025 NFL season with the New York Jets as their starting nickelback before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on October 29, 2025. With the Jets, he continued to play his familiar slot-corner role, logging tackles and pass deflections before the in-season move. The trade gave him a fresh opportunity in a contending Philadelphia secondary.
Following the 2025 regular season, Carter joined the Eagles’ offseason program with a potential position change looming. With starting safety Reed Blankenship departing in free agency, the Eagles were reported to be considering Carter as a candidate to move to the safety position, an adjustment that would lean on his prior experience and football intelligence. As of the 2025 season, he remained an active and productive NFL defensive back entering the next phase of his career.
