So much of the summer conversation surrounds whether the Philadelphia Eagles will give defensive tackle Jalen Carter a contract extension now or wait to see how he plays in 2026.
Carter had a down season despite making the Pro Bowl for the second straight season, with six games missed due to injuries and being kicked out of a game before even playing a down. This has led to the conversations surrounding Carter, as the team's decision could impact a player on the team. Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton named Moro Ojomo to his list of under-the-radar players who could boost their market value for next offseason, with Moton saying Carter could impact what Philly does with Ojomo after 2026.
"The Philadelphia Eagles signed Jordan Davis to an extension. According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, they're hesitant to do the same for Jalen Carter. Moro Ojomo is the defensive lineman who's flown under the radar and could make the big bucks next offseason."
"With more sacks and pressures than Davis and Carter in the previous season, Ojomo is a hidden gem on the Eagles' defensive front. Philadelphia has a strong trio of interior defensive linemen, but the front office may not want to pay all three, which could factor into the pause on a new contract for Carter. The Eagles can be patient with Carter's extension because he has two years left on his rookie deal. They must decide on Ojomo before his contract expires in 2027. As a 2023 seventh-rounder, he's starting to exceed expectations and could generate significant buzz on his way to free agency."
What Eagles do with Jalen Carter could affect what happens with Moro Ojomo
Ojomo showed signs during the Eagles' Super Bowl run in 2024 that he could be an impact player. Replacing Carter last year when he was hurt, Ojomo confirmed that he was a legit talent as he finished the season with 49 pressures, 39 hurries, 38 tackles, 12 quarterback hits, six tackles for loss, six sacks, and one pass deflection in 17 games. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 72.9, ranking 19th out of 134 eligible interior defensive linemen.
No one can deny that Ojomo is going to be a great defensive tackle in the NFL for a long time. He reminds Eagles fans of Milton Williams in how he went from backup third-round pick to collecting a big payday last offseason with the New England Patriots, except Ojomo is a seventh-round pick who literally defied all the odds and became one of the most underrated defensive tackles in the NFL.
Carter is going to reset the market for defensive tackles as his next contract should be north of $35 million per year. Ojomo would be a cheaper option as he is looking to land around $25 million per year, which is about the average for a top-10-paid defensive tackle.
The question is whether the Eagles trust Carter to mature and stay healthy throughout a season. That is the holdup on why a contract extension hasn't gotten done yet. They at least got Jordan Davis on a long-term contract extension, so it's just a matter of what to do about Carter.
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If the Eagles give Carter the extension, there is a very high chance Ojomo lands with another team and gets a massive payday, which he deserves. It would be great for the Eagles to retain him somehow, but guys like Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean are more important to the franchise's future and need extensions soon.
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