Double Trouble? Michael Carter, Michael Carter II teaming up with Jets

Two players with the same name are taking their talents to One Jets Drive with the 2021 NFL draft in the books.

There are now two Michael Carters residing at One Jets Drive.

New York landed two players with the same name on the third and final day of the 2021 NFL draft. First the Jets selected North Carolina running back Michael Carter with the 107th pick. Then they made Duke cornerback Michael Carter II the 154th pick.

The two Carters went from college rivals to NFL teammates in a matter of minutes and were quick to laugh about their quirky draft connection.

New York’s selection of Carter II after Carter sparked widespread confusion on social media, as two players of the same name in the same draft class being picked by the same team is essentially unheard of. ESPN mixed the two up long before Carter II was picked by the Jets, though. They showed Duke highlights when New York selected the UNC running back with the second pick of the fourth round.

“We were like, ‘Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. Check the notes and make sure we got the right pick,'” Robert Saleh said of the gaffe, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “Lucky for us, Michael II ended up falling to us.”

While they carry the same name, Carter and Carter II bring vastly different skill sets with them to the Big Apple. Carter specializes in making game-breaking plays out of the backfield, while Carter II thrives in thwarting them from his nickel cornerback position.

Carter got the best of Carter II when North Carolina met Duke last season, though, as Carter trucked through Carter II for a touchdown in what can be deemed a Carter on Carter crime.

Regardless of who won the battle of the Carters in college, the Jets are hoping both players can make an impact as soon as next season. With both Carter and Carter II possessing dynamic ability, there is no reason why that can’t come to fruition.

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