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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 11: Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on before the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field on January 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Eagles have been at the center of several rumors during the early stages of the NFL offseason.
While much of the speculation has revolved around wide receiver A.J. Brown, another surprising name began circulating in league chatter in recent weeks: defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
However, that speculation appears to have been greatly exaggerated.
During a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show Wednesday morning, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter addressed the growing rumors suggesting Carter could be moved this offseason. Schefter made it clear the Eagles have not actively explored trading the former first-round pick.
Thomas R. Petersen
Eagles are not shopping Jalen Carter, per Adam Schefter.
They are in fact working at an extension. #Eagles
“The Eagles have never made Jalen Carter available and they have never shopped him,” Schefter said.
The clarification quickly quieted a narrative that had begun gaining traction across the league following reports that teams had contacted Philadelphia about Carter’s availability.
Adam Schefter Clarifies Jalen Carter Trade Buzz
The speculation surrounding Carter gained momentum earlier this week after multiple reports indicated that teams had reached out to theEagles to inquire about the Pro Bowl defensive tackle. That outside interest helped fuel growing chatter around the league about the future of Jalen Carter in Philadelphia.
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Carter has emerged as one of the NFL’s most disruptive interior defenders
However, as Schefter emphasized, receiving calls from other teams does not mean the Eagles have any intention of moving their young defensive star.
“Yeah, the Eagles never have shopped him. Never have shopped him,” Schefter reiterated during the interview.
That distinction is important around the NFL.
In this case, the Eagles simply listened to inquiries but never initiated discussions about making Carter available.
For a player of Carter’s caliber, the interest from other teams only reinforces how highly he is valued around the league.
Eagles Expected to Build Around Carter Long-Term
Beyond shutting down the trade rumors, the update also aligns with Philadelphia’s broader roster strategy.
Carter has quickly become one of the most important pieces of the Eagles’ defensive front since being selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Despite playing only 11 games during the 2025 season, he still remained on pace to earn his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection thanks to his disruptive play along the defensive line.
He was also a major part of their Super Bowl run.
Philadelphia has already taken steps to keep its defensive core intact. Earlier this offseason, the Eagles signed fellow defensive tackle Jordan Davis to a significant three-year contract extension. The move ensures stability along the interior of the defensive line for years to come.
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Carter is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract. The team also holds a fifth-year option for the 2027 season.
Because of his major impact on the defense, many around the league expect theEagles to pursue a long-term extension with Jalen Carter this offseason.
For now, Schefter’s comments appear to settle the debate. Despite the offseason chatter, Carter is not expected to be traded. He remains firmly part of the Eagles’ future plans.