Former Cardinals RB Signing With Titans

The Arizona Cardinals move into the future without the possibility of signing former running back Michael Carter.

Carter, who entered free agency, is landing with the Tennessee Titans according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport:

The #Titans aren’t done, as they are also signing former #AZCardinals RB Michael Carter, sources say. The former #Jets RB rejoins coach Robert Saleh. pic.twitter.com/pyIRvjgFdQ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 1, 2026

Carter was with Arizona for the last three seasons and was mostly used as a rotational/depth running back with the presence of James Conner and Trey Benson.

After the Cardinals signed Tyler Allgeier and re-signed Bam Knight this offseason, it was all but assumed Carter would be off the roster in 2026.

Carter was consistently heralded for his work ethic and mentality despite not getting the snaps he probably should have gotten.

“He's battling. His effort was through the roof not just when he had the ball, but when he didn't have the ball," former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said last year.

"A couple snaps come to my mind. Blocking guys way down away from the line of scrimmage, I thought was awesome. He loves to play football. Ever since he walked in the door when we got him from New York, he's had a smile on his face, wants to play football, loves to practice and prepares the right way. I know we can count on him."

Carter was productive in the various spurts he was plugged into during his tenure with the Cardinals, and now he'll look to provide the same boost in Tennessee.

The Titans were initially thought to be players to draft Jeremiyah Love, and while Carter's arrival doesn't quite stop that, Tennessee's running back room did get a capable runner of the football if they want to go in a different direction.

Why would this matter? The Cardinals pick directly ahead of the Titans in the 2026 NFL Draft and could be looking to cash in on their pick for a trade down the board. If a team wants Love, and believes Tennessee isn't 100% sold on him, that could lessen the probability Arizona finds a trade partner.

Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are currently the running back duo in Tennessee, so the Titans could in theory roll with that backfield if absolutely needed. Carter is a nice complementery back to those two as well.

All in all, Carter was a solid running back and locker room player for the Cardinals during his tenure in the desert. That should again be the case for the vet in his new adventures with the Titans.