Jarvis Brownlee trade could quietly spell trouble for struggling Jets starter

The New York Jets' secondary has been one of the most disappointing position groups on the team's roster in 2025. That's partially why the Jets made the decision to go out and trade for cornerback Jarvis Brownlee on Tuesday.

The Jets acquired Brownlee and a 2026 seventh-round pick from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick in a deal that many are already proclaiming to be a heist by new general manager Darren Mougey.

A fifth-round pick of the Titans in the 2024 NFL Draft, Brownlee has started 16 of 19 games since entering the league last season, playing over 900 defensive snaps as a rookie. He's a 24-year-old starting-caliber cornerback with three years of cheap team control.

The Brownlee addition could change the landscape of the Jets' secondary, but while many have been quick to assume that Brandon Stephens would be the odd man out, it's possible a different Jets cornerback could be in trouble. That player could be Michael Carter II.

Jarvis Brownlee trade could be bad news for Jets' CB Michael Carter II

Carter has quietly been one of the weakest links of the Jets' secondary this season. While much of the attention has understandably been given to Stephens' struggles, it's Carter who has the team's worst Pro Football Focus coverage grade at a lowly 44.5, second-worst among all qualified slot corners.

The troubling aspect is that this is part of a concerning trend for the once-standout nickel cornerback. Carter played through a back injury for much of 2024 and looked like a shell of his former self.

The hope was that a healthy Carter would bounce back in 2025, but he's now dealing with a shoulder injury and arguably looks even worse than he did a year ago. His tackling and run defense have also been serious problems.

That's where someone like Brownlee can step in. The Louisville product is a superb tackler whose Titans tape is littered with instances of him blowing up screens and playing like a menace down near the line of scrimmage.

While he's primarily been an outside cornerback in college and in the NFL, many scouts projected him as more of a slot defender at the professional level, and it's easy to see why. His physicality and excellent run defense make him a logical candidate for the role.

Brownlee's 77.7 PFF run defense grade ranked top 10 among qualified cornerbacks in 2024, while his 83.5 run defense grade ranks top-five this season. He also has the highest run-stop rate among qualified cornerbacks in 2025.

This Jets defense desperately needs a player like that, and his best use would probably be as the team's slot cornerback. Where that leaves Carter is unclear, but his Jets future is very much in doubt beyond this season.

It might even make sense for the Jets to give Carter some looks at safety. He played the position in college, and it might be best to move him further away from the line of scrimmage, especially given his recent injuries.

Either way, the Brownlee trade gives the Jets increased flexibility in what has been a weak position group through the first three weeks of the season. Jets fans should just prepare for the possibility that this acquisition says more about Carter than it does about Stephens.

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