The Philadelphia Eagles have made another major investment in their defensive line, agreeing to a four-year extension with defensive tackle Jalen Carter that will keep him with the team through the 2031 campaign. The announcement came Tuesday, coinciding with the start of training camp player reporting.
According to NFL sources cited by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane, the contract is valued at $152 million, with $106 million guaranteed. When the new deal takes effect, Carter's average annual salary of $38 million will set a new benchmark for defensive tackles in league history.
Carter, 25, was entering the fourth season of his rookie contract, and the Eagles had already exercised his fifth-year option in April. By finalizing the extension now, Philadelphia ensures that Carter will not test the open market as a free agent.
Selected ninth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Georgia, Carter quickly established himself among the elite at his position. He earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first two seasons (2024 and 2025), becoming the first Eagles defensive tackle to achieve back-to-back Pro Bowl selections since Fletcher Cox. In his rookie year, Carter finished as the runner-up for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, trailing only Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson.
During the Eagles' Super Bowl-winning 2024 season, Carter shouldered the heaviest workload on the defensive line, playing 79.4 percent of defensive snaps. However, the 2025 season proved more challenging as he dealt with shoulder injuries that required procedures, causing him to miss three games in the second half of the year.
The injuries clearly affected Carter's performance. He acknowledged during the season that he was not at full strength, and the numbers backed that up. According to Next Gen Stats, Carter posted a career-low 7.7 percent pressure rate while facing double teams on a career-low 41.7 percent of his pass rushes. He generated only five pressures on 158 double-team blocks, a significant decline from 12 in 2023 and 15 in 2024.
Carter's offseason was also somewhat unusual. He did not attend the two voluntary organized team activity sessions open to the media, and during mandatory minicamp, he was present but did not participate in team drills. Head coach Nick Sirianni declined in June to say whether Carter's lack of participation was related to contract negotiations or his injuries. However, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio expressed confidence in Carter's health, stating in late May, "I think his shoulders are fine. He's had a good offseason of lifting. I think he started that earlier than normal for him, and you can see the difference in that regard. I think he's in a better spot now than he was."
By committing to Carter with this extension, the Eagles signal their belief that he can return to his dominant form. The move mirrors the team's approach with fellow defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who signed a three-year, $78 million deal in March. Together, Carter and Davis solidify the interior of Philadelphia's defensive line for the foreseeable future.
Both Carter and Davis were among the defensive players eligible for extensions heading into 2026. Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, who turns 25 in August, has not yet received an extension and is entering the final year of his rookie contract. As the Eagles lock in lucrative deals for their young defensive stars, general manager Howie Roseman has balanced the books by adding affordable talent through the draft, particularly on offense this year.
Originally reported by westhawaiitoday.