The Philadelphia Eagles signed Jordan Davis to a contract extension this offseason. A lot of pundits see fellow defensive tackle Jalen Carter as the next obvious extension candidate for the team.
This week, CBS Sports’s Joel Corry provided an update on what a contract extension with Carter might cost. Based on Corry’s projection, it could be significantly more than Davis’s deal.
“The starting point for serious contract discussions with the two-time Pro Bowl should be $32.5 million per year,” wrote Corry. “That approximates the cost of using a franchise tag on Carter in 2028 based on a 120% increase of his $27.127 million fifth-year option for 2027.”
Assuming the Eagles signed Carter to a 3-year deal as they did with Davis, at $32.5 million per season, the total value of his extension would be $97.5 million.
Philadelphia signed Davis to a 3-year, $78 million contract.
Projecting Jalen Carter’s Next Contract
GettyCBS Sports’s Joel Corry projected the average annual salary defensive tackle Jalen Carter should get in any Philadelphia Eagles contract extension.
Those contract estimations would make Carter one of the highest-paid interior defensive linemen in the NFL. In fact, on a per average annual basis, it would make him the highest-paid interior defensive lineman.
Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones currently holds that title. His 5-year extension pays him an annual salary of $31.75 million.
Because of the growing popularity of 3-year deals around the NFL, I assumed Carter’s total contract value on a 3-year deal. If he inked that length of a contract, the total value in Carter’s deal would sit half a million outside the top 5 at No. 6 at his position.
On a 4-year deal, Carter’s total value would be $130 million. Only Jones currently has a higher value along the interior defensive line. Jones signed a 5-year, $158.75 million extension with the Chiefs.
A shoulder injury limited Carter to 11 games during 2025. But he still registered 33 combined tackles, including five tackles for loss with 12 quarterback hits and three sacks. He also had seven pass defenses.
Carter has made the Pro Bowl the past two seasons. He also earned a second-team All-Pro nomination during 2024.
The 25-year-old deserves a sizable raise. The question is whether the Eagles agree to make him the highest paid at his position.
Interestingly, Spotrac only projected Carter’s market value at $21 million per season. Spotrac predicted Carter to receive a 4-year, $84 million extension.
Eagles Fifth-Year Option Decision With Carter
GettyThe Philadelphia Eagles must exercise Jalen Carter’s fifth-year option by May 1.
The deadline for the Eagles to exercise the fifth-year option with Carter is May 1. Doing that will give Philadelphia some time to negotiate an extension.
That’s the good news.
Some pundits, though, doubt whether Carter might even get a long-term deal in Philadelphia. That’s because with a Carter extension, the Eagles could have more than $55 million per season invested at defensive tackle.
Eagles insiders, though, such as The Athletic’s Zach Berman, see the Eagles spending that amount of money on the two defensive tackles.
“I don’t believe the Davis extension changes a Carter decision,” wrote Berman on March 8. “I had thought it made sense to keep both of them, and the big contracts should be viewed across the defense rather than defensive tackle specifically.
“Still, it highlights the upcoming decision for Carter because that would require an even larger investment in the position.”
Given that Carter is signed through 2027 with the fifth-year option, the Eagles have some time to work out the specifics. Based on their history, though, a long-term deal for Carter could be coming much sooner than a year or so from now.
Whenever it arrives, it’s going to be expensive.
Eagles Receive $33 Million Jalen Carter Contract Update