4 biggest losers following the NY Jets 2023 NFL Draft

2. Michael Carter, RB, NY Jets

Michael Carter's stock has fallen quite a bit over the course of the last year. The 2021 fourth-round pick put together an impressive rookie season and seemed primed to go into 2022 as the Jets' top running back.

That was until the team selected Iowa State standout Breece Hall in the second round of last year's draft. Hall emerged as one of the Jets' best offensive players before a knee injury cut his rookie season short.

Carter hoped to take advantage of the opportunity, but the North Carolina product fell well short of expectations. In 16 games, Carter rushed for just 402 yards on a woeful 3.5 yards per carry. He struggled so much that he lost playing time to undrafted rookie Zonovan Knight late in the year.

Still, the hope has been that Carter could rebound in 2023. He isn't going to be handed any opportunities, however. Not after the Jets drafted Pittsburgh's Israel Abanikanda in the fifth round.

Carter is still the de facto RB2 behind Hall entering 2023, but Knight and Abanikanda both have the ability to push him for playing time. It also doesn't bode well for Carter's stock that the Jets were eyeing Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round.

The Jets are well aware of Carter's struggles last season, and they also realize Hall is returning from a serious knee injury. Adding Abanikanda provides the team with an additional insurance policy.

Don't be surprised if Abanikanda passes Carter on the depth chart at some point this season. His stock is falling fast.