Jalen Carter
Getty
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
The news of the Philadelphia Eagles signing defensive tackle Jordan Davis to a 3-year, $78 million contract extension was just a few minutes old on Saturday when the questions started: What about Jalen Carter?
That’s because the Eagles have not 1 but 2 of the NFL’s best young defensive tackles and with both of them eligible for extensions, and only Davis signed, the trade rumors around Carter seemed to snowball quickly.
Now, it seems like the Eagles are fielding trade offers for Carter, arguably the NFL’s best young defensive tackle and already an NFL All-Pro, Pro Bowler, and Super Bowl champion through 3 seasons.
“With defensive tackle Jordan Davis now extended, Philly also must weigh whether to extend Jalen Carter, who is eligible for a new deal,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on Sunday. “I’m told Philly has received trade calls on Carter.”
What Carter might bring back to the Eagles in any given trade is up for debate, although any package would almost certainly include 1 — if not 2 — 1st round picks.
Jalen Carter’s Contract Could Reset the Market
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox predicts Carter could (sort of) reset the market with his 1st contract extension via a predicted 4-year, $108 million deal which would make him the 2nd highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL behind Kansas City Chiefs star and 3-time Super Bowl champion Chris Jones.
Jones signed a 5-year, $158.75 million contract in March 2024, which pays him approximately $31.75 million per year.
Carter is finally eligible to receive an extension after completing his 3rd season.
“In three seasons, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter has established himself as one of the game’s most disruptive defenders,” Knox wrote. “The two-time Pro Bowler hasn’t even turned 25 yet, either. Expect the Eagles to lock up Carter early. General manager Howie Roseman has a long history of negotiating early extensions, and Carter figures to be a centerpiece player in the mold of Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, and Cam Jurgens.”
Did Eagles Already Try and Trade Jalen Carter?
It was common knowledge that the Eagles tried to obtain former Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons in a trade before the 2025 season.
It was a deal that almost happened until Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stepped in and decided he couldn’t stomach Parsons going to an NFC East Division rival.
To hear Parsons tell it, the deal didn’t go down for a different reason. He said the Eagles were willing to give up Carter in exchange for him, but he didn’t want to play for the Eagles if he couldn’t play with Carter, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL drfat.
Parsons was eventually traded to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for 2 first round picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. The Packers signed Parsons to the largest contract for a defensive player in NFL history — 4 years for $186 million with $136 million in guaranteed money.
“There was one person that I had to play with that if he was gone I did not want to be there — and that was Jalen Carter,” Parsons said on Saturday in a Bleacher Report podcast conversation with Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown and Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.