‘He’s on a roll now…’: Raiders coach Pete Carroll opens up on the heated Travis Hunter debate — as the rookie sensation stuns the NFL by playing both ways and the veteran coach admits he’d ‘love to have tried it’ himself… - suong
The Las Vegas Raiders are hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, and they are two teams in similar situations. The Jaguars are a bit further ahead with a 4-3 record, but they are also coming off an embarrassing loss to a Super Bowl contender.
They are also coming off a bye week, so both teams are fresh and hoping to get back on track. One thing the Raiders have to do if they hope to win is limit Travis Hunter. After a slow start, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is starting to find his stride.
Even in the loss to the Los Angeles Rams, he had eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. That’s not to mention that he took 14 snaps at cornerback. Raiders head coach Pete Carroll spoke highly of Hunter before the Week 9 matchup.
“He’s a really good football player,” Carroll told reporters on Wednesday. “But it shows. He’s got savvy, he’s got toughness about him, he’s playmaking. You can see him stealing the ball from guys when he’s making catches, and aggressive in his coverage, as well. He’s a really good blocker. … He’s a really good talent. He had a great game this past week, so he’s on a roll now.”
Carroll Reveals If He Would Play Hunter Both Ways
Hunter has yet to have a Shohei Ohtani-type impact on both sides of the ball, but the Jaguars are giving him plenty of reps at cornerback. His main position has been at wide receiver, but he still has value to the defense.
Whether or not he can play both positions at a high level remains a heated topic of debate. In the modern NFL, there has never been a player to play both sides of the ball consistently. Carroll questioned Hunter if he’d be able to pull it off before the draft.
“The first thing I asked him when we interviewed him was, ‘Is this any big deal to go both ways?’ And he said, ‘No, no way.’ I mean, he took it like I thought he would because the only way he could’ve done that through his college years and all that was to have a great attitude about it. It was never even a burden to him. He’s been playing both ways since he was in little league football.
“And he hasn’t known it any different, so it seems so unique to everybody for this to occur, but it isn’t to him.”
Carroll was totally on board with the idea of playing Hunter both ways if the Raiders were able to draft him.
“I would’ve loved to have played him both ways, too. I would’ve loved to have the chance to do that,” Carroll said. “That’s what we talked about in the interview, and he was right on it as far as the mentality it would take to do something like that.
Raiders Need Bounceback Performance
Unfortunately for the Raiders, they don’t get the advantage of coming off a bye week against a team that isn’t rested. While the Jaguars have a better record, neither team has been playing great football consistently this season.
This is close to a must-win for the Raiders. They have a short week against the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. Beating the Jaguars would show that the Raiders are able to bounce back from a bad performance. A loss would effectively end the team’s chances of competing for the playoffs this season.
‘Greatness is on the way…’: Eagles pull off dramatic last-minute trade before deadline — as Howie Roseman lands Jets star cornerback in shock deal that sees fan-favorite WR shipped out… and new arrival gives up $5M just to join the Super Bowl champs… - suong
When it comes to improving their defense, it seems like the Philadelphia Eagles and general manager Howie Roseman aren’t done making moves.
The Eagles pulled the trigger on a trade that could vastly improve their defense just days ahead of the November 4 NFL trade deadline, sending wide receiver John Metchie III and a 2027 sixth round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for cornerback Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh round pick.
“Sources: The Eagles are trading for Jets versatile CB Michael Carter II to fill a need for them, with WR John Metchie III heading to NYJ in the deal,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on October 29.
While the Eagles have one of the NFL’s few truly elite shutdown cornerbacks on one side of the field with 2024 first round pick and Super Bowl champion Quinyon Mitchell, the other starting outside cornerback spot has been an issue all offseason.
Carter is used to playing opposite an elite cornerback and holding his own playing opposite 2-time NFL All-Pro Sauce Gardner the last 4 seasons. Carter has been almost as good as Gardner, even if the Jets have been terrible the entire time.
“Michael Carter II in his career: 5 seasons, 3 TDs allowed,” Pro Football Focus wrote on its official X account. “Your newest Philadelphia Eagle.”
Carter took to social media to address the trade.
“New York, I’m forever grateful!” Carter wrote on his official X account. “You changed my life so much love to all my dawgs in the building. Greatness is on the way!”
Eagles Made Rare Misstep in Offseason
It’s not the first time the Eagles have tried to find someone competent to fill the cornerback role opposite Mitchell.
On August 4, the Eagles traded defensive lineman Thomas Booker IV to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for cornerback and 2023 fourth round pick (No. 104 overall) Jakorian Bennett.
Bennett, however, hasn’t been available since he went on injured reserve following a Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Rams, although he’s back practicing with the Eagles and could be back for a Week 10 Monday Night Football showdown against the Green Bay Packers.
All of this back-and-forth could have probably been avoided had the Eagles just re-signed last year’s other starting cornerback, veteran Darius Slay, who they let leave on a 1-year, $10 million free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Carter Made Massive Decision to Complete Trade
It will be interesting to see what Carter does once he’s on an elite team. He’s been playing on also-rans since the Jets took him in the fifth round (No. 154 overll) of the 2021 NFL draft after a standout career at Duke.
Carter, 5-foot-10 and 184 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing, 4.36 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.
Now, he’s going to get a chance to play for the defending Super Bowl champions.
“Here’s how badly Michael Carter II wanted to join the champs: Sources say he agreed to delete the $5M guaranteed for injury in his 2026 contract year to complete the trade to the
