Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is known around the NFL for his salary cap management and foresight in getting extensions done early.
That makes it somewhat of a surprise that Philadelphia has not signed 2023 first-round pick Jalen Carter to a long-term deal. The 25-year-old became extension-eligible this offseason, but the team is currently hesitant to pony up for their star defensive tackle, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
The situation has also been complicated by **Jeffery Simmons**‘ new contract with the Titans. His $35.3MM AAV raised the positional market by $4MM over **Chris Jones**‘ current deal with the Chiefs. Carter, who has emerged as one of the most impactful defensive tackles in the game, could demand a similar sum. In his first two seasons, he recorded 10.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles with a second-place finish in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2023 and Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors the following year. Last season, his production dropped to three sacks, five TFLs, and zero forced fumbles, in large part due to a six-game absence caused by surgery on both shoulders. He still earned a Pro Bowl nod for his impact, which is much larger than his traditional stat production suggest.
But character concerns about Carter have persisted since a 2023 street racing incident that resulted in the death of a staffer and a teammate at the University of Georgia. He received two fines for hitting opponents in 2024 and was ejected for spitting on Dak Prescott before Week 1 last year. That could be a contributing factor to the Eagles’ reluctance to sign Carter to a long-term extension, Breer adds.
Carter is still an excellent player that Philadelphia likely wants to keep in the long run, but a deal this year might have to come at a more team-friendly price rather than a record-setting one.