From now until next offseason, there are going to be a lot of decisions the Philadelphia Eagles need to make, but one continues to be a topic of conversation.
Despite picking up Jalen Carter's fifth-year option on his rookie deal, the Eagles still need to decide whether to give him a long-term deal now, later, or avoid it altogether. ESPN NFL writer Bill Barnwell looked at each position in the NFL for who will be the next player to get a massive contract extension with Carter being named for defensive tackle.
"I still expect the next record-setting contract to go to Carter, who might be the best young defensive tackle in football. Last season didn't go as planned for Carter, who started the season with a bizarre ejection for spitting on Dak Prescott before missing five other games because of injuries, but he still managed to make his second consecutive Pro Bowl. And it takes only a trip back to the 2024 playoffs to recall how dominant Carter can be at his best, down to winning the game against the Rams with a pair of pressures on the final drive of the contest.
Howie Roseman is shifting Philadelphia's spending from offense to defense over the next 12 months, and while anything's possible in the modern NFL or with the trade-friendly general manager, it would be a surprise if Carter's next deal wasn't a record setter. That would come from either the Eagles or another team, which presumably would have given up a first-round pick and more to land the Super Bowl winner. An extension for Carter would likely come in between $32 million and $35 million per season, and given how aggressive the Eagles are with signing young players to contracts, expect it to happen before the start of the 2026 campaign."
Jalen Carter could be next for a big deal at defensive tackle in the NFL
Carter has two more years on his current rookie contract as he will be owed $27.1 million in 2027 as part of that fifth-year option being picked up. That leaves the Eagles with a big decision to make over the next 12 months.
The Eagles have the option to pay him now before the season begins, which could benefit the franchise, as they could pay him before he proves that he should earn more money. It's also a massive risk for the Eagles as Carter missed six games to injury last season, and the team was being cautious with him at OTAs.
Waiting until next offseason also gives the Eagles one more year to evaluate him and decide whether to make a move. They might have to pay more if he has another Pro Bowl season, but locking him into a new contract could help the team keep its position intact in the future.
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This will be a storyline for the Eagles fan base to monitor over the next few months before the season to see if they will do anything or wait until next offseason to address it.
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