Michael Carter Boasts 'Off-season Clarity' in Life After Jets

2021 fourth-round draft pick gets change of scenery with Arizona Cardinals

Running back Michael Carter was missing something during his first two professional offseasons as a New York Jet.

No longer with the team that drafted him, Carter claims he has "off-season clarity" following a six-game stint as an Arizona Cardinal.

"for the first time since i got the league, i have off-season clarity," said Carter in a social media post on X. "it feels great. next season will be my best."

The Jets released the third-year running back on November 14, following a Week 10 road loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Carter, who saw his role shrink in 2023, logged only nine offensive snaps in his final game as a Jet. New York's former fourth-round pick carried eight times for 38 yards in nine appearances this season prior to his departure.

Selected with the No. 107 overall choice in the 2021 NFL Draft, Carter generated some excitement as a rookie. He gained 964 yards from scrimmage while averaging 4.3 yards per rush attempt in Year 1. The North Carolina product didn't get the chance to enter his sophomore season as a potential RB1, however, with the Jets drafting Iowa State's Breece Hall at No. 36 overall.

Carter's efficiency slipped in 2022 when he averaged 3.5 yards per carry and totaled 690 scrimmage yards through 16 games. He failed to establish himself as the team's primary rusher even when Hall suffered a season-ending injury in Week 7.

This past offseason, the Jets used a fifth-round draft pick on running back Israel Abanikanda and subsequently added free agent Dalvin Cook to the stable of ball carriers. Carter was reduced to a parttime role as a third-down back in pass pro situations.

The 24-year-old Carter has seemingly benefitted from the change of scenery. Working his way into Arizona's rotation, he averaged 6.8 yards per carry over a small sample size. Carter totaled 182 scrimmage yards and one touchdown over 82 offensive snaps with the Cardinals.

"next season will be my best ... i have all the talent in the world," said Carter in his X post.

Carter was a well-liked presence in the Jets' locker-room as evidenced by his teammates' reactions to his mid-November release.

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