The Jets have signed nickel cornerback Michael Carter II to a three-year contract extension.
"I'm happy that we were able to get a deal done," Carter said. "It's a blessing. Thank you to the Jets for seeing something in me, a 5-10, 5th-round pick out of Duke, seeing the value in me and putting me out there and putting so much trust in me. I'm thankful to them."
Jets GM Joe Douglas added: "Michael is a tremendous football player and person, who is committed to his craft and this team. His diligent approach has spread throughout the entire defensive back unit and is a major part of the group's success. We could not be happier with him and look forward to his continued success."
A fifth-round pick of the Jets in the 2021 NFL Draft, Carter has been a pivotal piece on one the NFL's best defenses. Appearing in 15 contests last season, he totaled 9 pass defenses, 1 forced fumble, 5 QB pressures and 47 tackles.
"A lot of people might not know this but when people say corner is the hardest position – nickel probably is harder than corner, because they can literally run any route against the nickel," CB Sauce Gardner said of Carter. "But when you are on the island, if you got a receiver with a wide split, you know he can only run three to four routes.
"But MC man, he is getting over routes, banana 7s. He (has) to help in the run game, he has to play an important role in the run game. So, man, for him to be just be able to do that, I have a huge amount of respect for him, so do the coaches and the rest of the rest of the team."
Carter played in 15 games his first season and became one of three rookies and one of four Jets rookies since 2000 to record 4+ PDs and 4+ TFL while finishing with 71 tackles. In the 2022 season, the Duke product was the only nickel corner with multiple interceptions (2) and multiple tackles for loss (3). Through his first two professional campaigns, he ranked fifth in tackles (26) on run plays when he lined up in the slot,
The 5-10, 184-pound Carter continued to thrive last season, posting career bests in receiving yards allowed (344), passer rating allowed (76.4) and completion percentage allowed (55.6%) while allowing 1 TD. He registered 47 tackles and 9 PDs while also pitching in with 5 QB pressures and 1 FF.
"He's one of the most highly regarded, loved, respected, players on our defense, on our team for that matter, just because of the way he carries himself," said Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich this summer of Carter. "He works every day. He's super detailed. He's always got a great attitude and you guys know, that have been around him. He's just an amazing human being because of all that and plus he's played at such a high level."
"He's earned the right to have this tremendous impact on those around him and really challenging him to get out of his comfort zone because his comfort zone is to be a little bit introverted and handle his own business. He's gotten so much better at that. He's never going to be the big rah-rah guy in front of the group, and he doesn't need to be. He's a guy that's behind the scenes getting guys better."
And with Carter locked up, the Jets defense will look to take another step in 2024 after finishing No. 1 in yards allowed per play (4.57), No. 2 in pass yards per game (168.3) and No. 6 in INT rate (3.26%).
"I said when I first got here that I wanted to be part of the winning and whenever that came to pass," Carter said. "And I know that will be this year, but I definitely wanted to be part of that, to be around for that. I'm super appreciative and excited that they brought me back ad extended me. Now we get to see this thing through from the jump."
