One of the biggest headaches for the Philadelphia Eagles entering training camp is what they plan to do at defensive tackle, given two-time Pro Bowler Jalen Carter and his future with the franchise.
Carter got his fifth-year option on his rookie contract picked up, but an extension is up next, with some believing it will come before training camp. If it doesn't, though, then it opens up a whole new world of possibilities for the Eagles that they might have to explore.
They could just wait out the 2026 season to see how Carter does with his maturity and health, and give him the extension after the year is done, or they could move on from him and roll with Moro Ojomo as his replacement, who is in the final year of his contract and looking for a new deal. The options are there, but there is a veteran who isn't being talked about who could give them some comfort, regardless of what they decide...besides Jordan Davis.
Byron Young is actually a great third option at defensive tackle for the Eagles
Not enough credit is given to Young, but he is actually a pretty good defensive tackle on the team. He came up big for the Eagles last season with Carter's injury, which moved Young up on the depth chart, and that move paid off as he racked up a career season with 37 tackles, 11 pressures, six hurries, four quarterback hits, three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery in 17 games.
Young is a great insurance policy for the Eagles no matter the situation. He can serve as the third defensive tackle and the main backup for either the duo of Carter and Davis or Davis and Ojomo. There doesn't seem to be a high-percentage scenario where Carter, Davis, and Ojomo are on the same team in 2027.
The only thing that could be standing in Young's way is 2025 draft pick Ty Robinson. A lot of Eagles fans were hyped about him last season, but he did not get the proper playing time, so the Eagles could give him a shot at playing more in 2026.
Either way, Young is too good a depth player to leave on the bench and not get any snaps. He might not be a starting-caliber player, but he more than showed last year that he is the top backup defensive tackle that the Eagles need to hold on to for depth.
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There are a lot of decisions that need to be made at defensive tackle over the next six to nine months, but one that needs to be highly considered more than people might think is what they should be doing with Young. That's a guy the Eagles can hold on to for cheap and still be an impact player for this franchise for years if they play their cards out right in 2027 and beyond.
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