Jets Receive Flood of Trade Calls for $4.2M Vet: Report
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New York Jets running back Michael Carter tries to make a play during an NFL game.
A surprising player has garnered a lot of interest ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, October 31st.
Jay Glazer of Fox Sports announced before Week 8 that the New York Jets had received more trade inquiries for running back Michael Carter than the better-known Dalvin Cook.
Glazer mentioned three NFL teams currently looking for a running back before the deadline:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Green Bay Packers
A struggling Jets player who could benefit from a change of scenery
Because of his brand name, extensive contract and previous production, Cook was heavily involved in trade rumors before the deadline. However, he will prove difficult to move due to his poor play Contract structure.
Although one player who might be a little more palatable to another team is Michael Carter.
He’s only 24 years old and still has a year and a half left his rookie contract. The former North Carolina product signed a four-year, $4.3 million contract shortly after hearing his name was called in the draft.
Carter showed promise in his rookie season, but things have gone downhill since then. All of his key stats have declined exponentially year-over-year.
He carried the ball eight times for 38 yards this season. Carter also caught nine passes through the air for an additional 44 yards.
He’s buried on the Jets’ depth chart and there’s no clear path to more playing time barring a future injury. Maybe a separation would be best for all parties.
A rookie ready to make his Jets debut in 2023
One of the potential motivating factors to give up on Carter would be the new opportunities that would arise for rookie Israel Abanikanda.
Izzy has not been an active member of the matchday squad since the start of the season and has patiently waited out his time on the bench.
However, it’s finally time for the Jets to explore door No. 2.
This Gang Green offense needs a spark and luckily Izzy provides just that.
While Carter has gotten significantly worse with each season over the last three years, Izzy achieved the opposite. During his final three collegiate seasons at Pitt University, he got exponentially better each year from a statistical standpoint.
Izzy’s final season in Pittsburgh led to 1,577 yards from scrimmage, 21 total touchdowns and a healthy average of 6.3 yards per scrimmage touch.
What has kept him from making the roster, however, is the natural progression from college to the pros.
Head coach Robert Saleh said the “big thing for him” is developing pass protection skills and “learning the protections.”
Additionally, Izzy can get on the field more by becoming a dominant special teams player. Saleh believes it will be pretty cool when he gets his chance.
Essentially, it’s about Izzy rounding out his game as a professional soccer player. One thing that could speed up this process would be trading Carter. There are just a few days left until the NFL trade deadline ends in the offseason.
Paul A. Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. The New York native is also the official PA voice of the Syracuse Strong Football Club and co-host of Cumulus Media’s morning show “The Manchild Show with Boy Green.” Prior to joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY and The Score 1260. More about Paul A. Esden Jr.
