The Philadelphia Eagles have made a bold move in their efforts to build a dominant defense, agreeing to a four-year, $152 million extension with defensive tackle Jalen Carter. This deal makes Carter the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history, per ESPN, with a reported value of up to $160 million, featuring $106 million in guaranteed money.
Carter’s new average annual value (AAV) of $38 million per year resets the defensive tackle market, which was recently topped by Jeffery Simmons of the Tennessee Titans just last month. Simmons received a three-year deal worth $105.8 million after leading all defensive tackles last season with 11.0 sacks while earning First Team All-Pro honors. However, Carter is four years younger than Simmons at 25 years old.
The Eagles now have two of the top six highest-paid defensive tackles in the NFL, as they signed Carter’s running mate Jordan Davis to a three-year, $78 million deal in March. The current top six highest-paid defensive tackles in the league are:
- Jalen Carter, Eagles
- Jeffery Simmons, Titans
- Chris Jones, Chiefs
- Dexter Lawrence, Bengals
- Milton Williams, Patriots
- Jordan Davis, Eagles
Carter was selected by the Eagles with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Georgia. He has made back-to-back Pro Bowls over the last two seasons, establishing himself as one of the best up-and-coming interior stars in the league. While Carter played in just 11 games this past season, he recorded 33 tackles, three sacks, 12 QB hits, and seven passes defensed. In 43 career games over three seasons, Carter has recorded 108 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. His 25 career tackles for loss are the fourth-most through a defensive tackle’s first three seasons since 2010, behind Geno Atkins (29), Ndamukong Suh (36), and Aaron Donald (57).
The Eagles should be confident in their interior defensive line with Carter, Davis, and Moro Ojomo, but the pass rush is a different issue. The team lost Jaelan Phillips in free agency after acquiring him at the trade deadline last year. He signed a four-year, $120 million deal with the Panthers, registering the fourth-highest pressure rate (18.8%) in the league this past season. With Phillips on the field, the Eagles had the fifth-highest pressure rate with the lowest blitz rate.
After losing Phillips, the Eagles traded for Jonathan Greenard. He has recorded at least 12 sacks in two out of the last three seasons and had an 18.1% pressure rate in 2025, ranking No. 7 in the NFL. Greenard will be one of the Eagles’ starting pass rushers, with his running mate to be determined. That should be Nolan Smith Jr. or Jalyx Hunt. Smith got to the quarterback three times in 12 starts last season. The former No. 30 overall pick has recorded just 10.5 sacks over his three NFL seasons, but did have the fifth-year option exercised on his rookie contract. Hunt, on the other hand, led the Eagles with 6.5 sacks and three interceptions this past season, to go along with 52 tackles. The former defensive back turned pass rusher was more productive than Smith and actually became the first player to ever lead a team outright in sacks and interceptions, per CBS Sports Research.
The Eagles will face a similar defensive dilemma next offseason. The team found two star secondary players in the 2024 NFL Draft with cornerback Quinyon Mitchell at No. 22 overall and the versatile Cooper DeJean at No. 40 overall. Both will be extension eligible next offseason. Mitchell has the fifth-year option in his contract, while DeJean does not. Mitchell is coming off a campaign in which he was named First Team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl after recording 45 tackles and 17 passes defensed. He led all defensive backs with a 39.6% completion percentage allowed and did not surrender a single touchdown in coverage. DeJean was also named First Team All-Pro, allowing zero touchdowns in coverage from the slot while snagging two interceptions. He also recorded four tackles for loss, which were the most by an Eagles defensive back.
Both Mitchell and DeJean are top 10 talents at their position and should be looking to reset the market that is about to be first reset by Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon. There’s a full season of football left to be played before we get there, but it’s something for Eagles fans to consider.
