Michael Carter II returned to Philadelphia this offseason on a reworked one-year deal that significantly reduced his 2026 salary cap number, but his roster value could ultimately stretch beyond cornerback. The Eagles are evaluating Carter II at safety, and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio believes the former Jets defensive back possesses traits that could make the transition possible.
Asked whether Carter II’s nickel experience naturally translates to safety or whether the move is more about the individual player, Fangio pointed directly to Carter II’s instincts and football awareness.
“I don’t think it’s the nickel position translating,” Fangio said last Thursday. “That’s an individual thing.”
Philadelphia acquired Carter II before last season’s trade deadline, sending wide receiver John Metchie and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Jets in exchange for Carter II and a 2027 seventh-round selection. The move represented a longer-term investment. Carter II arrived with starting experience and contractual control after signing a three-year extension with New York before the trade, but his role never fully materialized during his first season in Philadelphia.
The fifth-year defensive back appeared in limited action, logging 106 defensive snaps after arriving from New York. His biggest opportunities came during a Week 12 matchup against Dallas and the regular-season finale against Washington. Despite limited playing time, Fangio saw traits worth developing.
“He’s an instinctive player,” Fangio said. “I think he has a good feel for the game. What little he did play for us last year, he did show that.”
Those traits often determine whether defensive backs can handle moving deeper into the secondary. Safeties must process route combinations quickly, identify offensive tendencies, and react without hesitation. Fangio believes Carter II can handle the mental demands.
“I don’t think he’ll have a hard time learning the position mentally,” Fangio said. “He’s just got to go out there and be able to do it.”
Philadelphia is still in the early stages of evaluating the transition. Fangio noted that offseason work has primarily centered around walkthroughs and route recognition periods rather than full-speed competition.
“What we’ve been doing out there these last couple of weeks are just kind of walkthroughs and route pickups against other defensive players running the routes or even non-players,” Fangio said. “I think we’ll know early whether he’s got the feel for it or not.”
Only Fangio and executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman know exactly how Philadelphia views Carter II moving forward. The financial restructuring suggested the Eagles still see value. The position experimentation may reveal where that value fits best. Philadelphia enters 2026 with one of the NFL’s deeper secondaries after adding Riq Woolen to a group already featuring Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
If Carter II proves capable of handling safety responsibilities, Fangio could gain another versatile defensive piece in a secondary built increasingly around flexibility and matchup options.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles’ DC Vic Fangio is intrigued by Michael Carter II safety switch