The Philadelphia Eagles have built a reputation for getting ahead of expensive decisions, locking up key players before the market drives the price up. That pattern has not applied to Jalen Carter.
The two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle remains without a contract extension as he enters the final year of his rookie deal, and NFL insider Albert Breer says that delay is not an accident.
When asked directly whether the Eagles are reluctant to commit to Carter long term, Breer did not hedge.
"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," Breer wrote.
The Philadelphia Eagles are hesitant to pay Jalen Carter, according to Albert Breer.
What's notable in this: Carter is coming off a year with bilateral shoulder issues, played good, but not great, spit on Dak Prescott and has some character stuff.
He's also looking at a… pic.twitter.com/s2nTT5LjEH
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) June 18, 2026
Carter missed Philadelphia's season opener in 2025 after he was ejected for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before he even took a snap. That incident led to a fine and the loss of a game check.
Shoulder problems followed him through the back half of the season, and he underwent procedures on both shoulders in December that limited him for weeks.
He still finished with two Pro Bowl selections in his first three seasons and was a driving force in Philadelphia's Super Bowl run.
The Eagles already exercised Carter's fifth-year option, guaranteeing him $27.13 million in 2027 regardless of what happens with an extension. That gives both sides some breathing room, but it also means Philadelphia is not under pressure to negotiate against itself.
If Carter wants Philadelphia to move now, Breer's reporting suggests he will likely have to accept a deal built around protections for the team rather than the market-resetting number his camp has been seeking.
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