After finally trading wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots, the Philadelphia Eagles now have only one storyline that is roaming through the summer: will they give defensive tackle Jalen Carter a contract extension?
Carter's fifth-year option was picked up in the offseason, showing the Eagles still want him around, but something is holding them back from getting a new deal done. A reader asked Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer about whether the Eagles are hesitant to give Carter an extension, and Breer was straightforward with the answer.
"Ben, the answer is yes, they are hesitant to pay him. Philadelphia is telling you what you need to know with its actions. The Eagles have always been aggressive paying their own, in large part because they know that the earlier you do the deal, the better the price you’ll get. It’s a strategy that takes commitment from ownership, which Philly clearly has (some owners would rather keep money in their accounts until the summer), and has served the team very well over the years.
So the fact that we’re into June without Jalen Carter having a deal is notable. And I’d guess if they do one now, before his fourth season as a pro, then it’d come with flexibility for the team. If Carter won’t give them that flexibility now, maybe he’ll just wait another year. Which would make this a little like the George Pickens situation in Dallas—where a team might want to see a little more from a player, just from a character perspective, before committing long term."
Eagles might be holding back on Jalen Carter contract extension
The character concerns about Carter have resurfaced over the past year after what happened during the season. His ejection for spitting on Dak Prescott in Week 1 and his personal foul penalty in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams have a lot to do with that, as do his off-the-field issues from 2023.
Another concern with Carter is his durability, as he missed time with injuries on two separate occasions last year. First, he missed the Week 6 New York Giants game due to a heel injury, and then the last five games of the regular season with both his shoulders injured.
Talent has never been the problem for Carter, as he has been selected to two Pro Bowls in his first three seasons in the NFL. He is a top-three defensive tackle in the NFL and will reset the market.
It is interesting, though, that Jordan Davis got his contract extension so quickly in the offseason over Carter, despite Carter having the better resume. A move like that speaks volumes about how the Eagles feel about Carter.
Read more: Eagles being urged to give defender contract extension (but not Jalen Carter)
Eagles fans should prepare for a 2026 season where Carter does not have a contract extension and will have to use the 17 regular season games to prove that he deserves it. If he can't, then the Eagles might be more willing to trade him rather than let him play out the rest of his contract.
Add us as a preferred source on Google