After extending defensive tackle Jordan Davis, the Philadelphia Eagles have a decision to make on Jalen Carter.
Per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, on Saturday, the Eagles and Davis, the No. 13 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, agreed to a three-year, $78M extension making him the highest-paid nose tackle in league history. The deal includes $65M guaranteed.
In a follow-up message, Schefter wrote that Carter is one of three extension-eligible Eagles interior linemen this offseason, including 2023 seventh-rounder Moro Ojomo and Carter, the No. 9 overall pick in the same draft.
Eagles still left with key defensive line decisions following Jordan Davis extension
While not impossible, it may be difficult for Philadelphia to justify allocating the necessary resources to keeping all three. The Eagles need to work on an extension for edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips, a pending free agent. Corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean will be eligible to sign extensions next offseason, and the Eagles may need to fill out their depth at wide receiver if an A.J. Brown trade materializes.
Of the two remaining defensive tackles looking for extensions, Ojomo would be the more affordable while Carter would command the larger return in a trade. Ojomo played well in an increased role last season, finishing 2025 with six sacks while playing a career-high 740 defensive snaps, proving capable of starter-caliber production.
Carter had three sacks in 11 games last season, but as the constant source of double-teams, his presence goes beyond the box score, allowing teammates to feast on one-on-one matchups. The two-time Pro Bowler was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2024 and will almost certainly sign for more than Davis, which would be a substantial amount for the Eagles to put into the interior line.
If Philadelphia seriously considered trading Carter, this would be the offseason to do so. The free-agent defensive tackle class is suboptimal, putting it kindly, which should drive up his market.
Either way, it’s a win-win for the Eagles. Last season’s final four teams — the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos — were formidable along the defensive interior. Locking in Carter and Davis with extensions would give Philly a defensive tackle pair rivaling any in the league. A trade, meanwhile, would result in a king’s ransom based on general manager Howie Roseman’s past deals.
Until Carter signs, Philadelphia might want to explore his value around the league. As much as he means to the Eagles, another team might need him more.