“Michael Carter’s Off-Season Clarity: A Fresh Start with the Arizona Cardinals and Optimism for the Future”

During his initial two offseasons as a New York Jet, running back Michael Carter felt a void. Now, having moved on from the team that originally drafted him, Carter asserts that he has gained “off-season clarity” after a six-game tenure as an Arizona Cardinal. Sharing his sentiment on social media platform X, Carter expressed, “For the first time since I got into the league, I have off-season clarity. It feels great. Next season will be my best.”

The Jets parted ways with the third-year running back on November 14, following a road loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 10. Carter, whose role had diminished in 2023, received a mere nine offensive snaps in his final appearance as a Jet. Prior to his exit, the former fourth-round selection for New York carried the ball eight times for 38 yards in nine appearances during the season. Chosen as the No. 107 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Carter created a buzz as a rookie, accumulating 964 yards from scrimmage and averaging 4.3 yards per rush attempt in his debut season. However, the North Carolina product missed the opportunity to potentially be a primary running back in his second season, as the Jets drafted Iowa State’s Breece Hall at No. 36 overall.

In 2022, Carter experienced a decline in efficiency, managing an average of 3.5 yards per carry and accumulating 690 scrimmage yards over 16 games. Despite Hall’s season-ending injury in Week 7, Carter was unable to secure the role of the team’s primary rusher.

During the recent offseason, the Jets employed a fifth-round draft pick to acquire running back Israel Abanikanda and later added free agent Dalvin Cook to their group of ball carriers. This resulted in Carter assuming a part-time role as a third-down back in pass protection situations. Benefiting from the change of scenery, the 24-year-old Carter integrated himself into Arizona’s rotation, showcasing an impressive average of 6.8 yards per carry over a limited sample size. Carter amassed 182 scrimmage yards and scored one touchdown across 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’s popularity in the Jets’ locker room was evident from the reactions of his teammates when he was released in mid-November.