Perhaps the first sign that the Philadelphia Eagles should have known they had one of the top up-and-coming players in the league at defensive tackle was when future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald compared himself to him.
Yet as Jalen Carter prepares to enter his third season with the team, the Eagles understand a much bigger conversation is on the horizon for the Georgia star.
Carter is eligible for an extension next season and with the top non-QB contract now set at $40 million, there's little reason to think he won't be getting that kind of deal, especially after leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl title.
In two seasons, Carter has recorded 10.5 sacks, including 4.5 this past year. That may not seem like a lot but for an interior player who is getting doubled more than most others, it's clear the Eagles have a top defensive player in the game.
And one that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio knows can impact the game with his mere presence.
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"We all have (benefitted)," Fangio said. "He's caused some sacks for other people by applying the early pressure that makes the quarterback move and buys time for somebody else to get there. But really our team and our defense has prospered because of his play."
Few players - if any at all - are worth $40 million per year on average. That will be a hard pill to swallow for any team. But as the Eagles look to repeat from last year's title success, few are more deserving of that kind of deal than Carter.
And the Eagles have already shown they will cut a check to any player they feel is deserving.
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This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 6:01 AM.