The Philadelphia Eagles didn't get much in return when they traded for former New York Jets DB Michael Carter II. However, they still decided to keep him in town for a little longer by reworking his contract.
Nevertheless, that doesn't mean his spot in the roster is guaranteed. Eagles insider Zach Berman of The Athletic reported that he's more likely to be in the mix as a safety than as a cornerback. As such, he'll have to battle with Marcus Epps and Andrew Mukuba to prove he's worth keeping on the team.
"The Eagles re-negotiated Carter’s deal to keep him around this season and are expected to give him more of a look at safety. If the season started this week with everybody healthy, they would be the top two options after Mukuba at safety," Berman wrote.
Michael Carter II Still Needs to Find a Role in Philadelphia
With the Eagles struggling to find a reliable cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean clearly being better suited to play in the slot, the Eagles were desperate for help in the secondary, thus trading for Carter.
Even though there wasn't prime competition for reps there, Carter was still a non-factor. In all, he made eight appearances (one start) and logged 10 total tackles (three solo), failing to record a pass defense or interception.
The Eagles signed former Seattle Seahawks star Riq Woolen to put an end to their woes on the outside, thus leaving Carter II as either a rotational piece there or someone who'd have to find his way to the field in another spot. That's not an ideal position to be in entering training camp, so there are no guarantees that he will even make their 53-man roster.
GM Howie Roseman will most likely strenghten the trenches with his first-round pick, either by adding a defensive or offensive lineman, so there might not be new competition for Carter II, Mukuba, and Epps at least at first.
That said, the Eagles are always in the market for big names, and Roseman isn't the type of general manager who ignores his team's needs. This should be a point of emphasis for him at some point, even if it's before the trade deadline.
So far, Carter hasn't done anything to justify the return the Eagles sent away from him, as llittle as it may have been. The clock is ticking, and he'll have to put in the work to prove that keeping him around wasn't doubling down on a mistake.
More Philadelphia Eagles News & Rumors:
Add us as a preferred source on Google