The New York Jets are one of the main teams to keep an eye on as the trade deadline approaches. They have plenty of players drawing trade interest, and one of the more obvious candidates to be dealt was Michael Carter II.
During the Jets' Week 9 bye, they completed their first trade before the 2025 deadline, as according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Jets are sending Carter and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles.
But the return for the Jets isn't a simple draft pick or two. Instead, the Jets are getting some much-needed depth for their wide receiver room, adding John Metchie in the deal with the Eagles.
The Jets add WR John Metchie in exchange for Michael Carter II
"TRADE: The Eagles are sending WR John Metchi and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Jets for CB Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh-round pick, sources say," Russini reported.
TRADE: The Eagles are sending WR John Metchie and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Jets for CB Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh-round pick, sources say. pic.twitter.com/76O86JDyLP
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 29, 2025
Carter signed a $30.75 million deal with the Jets one year ago, but with Jarvis Brownlee emerging as a good slot defender, Carter became very expendable.
Now, he's on the move to the Eagles to help them round out their cornerback room. As part of the deal, the Jets are moving up a round with the Eagles, moving from the seventh round in the 2027 NFL draft to the sixth round.
But the main piece coming back for the Jets is John Metchie III. He's a 25-year-old wide receiver whom the Eagles acquired earlier in the year from the Houston Texans.
In 2026, Metchie will be a restricted free agent, giving the Jets a receiver for not just the rest of 2025 but also for 2026. The former 2022 second-round pick didn't pan out in Houston, partially due to an ACL injury and being diagnosed with locytic leukemia in July of 2022, just a few months after being drafted.
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In 2023 with the Texans, Metchie had 16 receptions on 30 targets for 158 yards. The following season in Houston, he had 24 receptions on 37 targets for 254 yards and one touchdown.
With the Eagles this season, in seven games played, Metchie had four targets and four receptions for 18 yards. Sitting behind AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, among others, left Metchie with little room for targets in Philadelphia.
But now in New York with the Jets, due to the Josh Reynolds injury, Metchie should factor into the weekly game plan for the Jets with Arian Smith, Tyler Johnson, Isaiah Williams, and Garrett Wilson once he's back from injury.
It's an interesting deal for the Jets, as they add a young receiver to a room that needed some depth, while moving on from Carter in a deal with the Eagles.
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