The Philadelphia Eagles might have waved goodbye to A.J. Brown in a blockbuster trade, but don’t count them out in the NFC just yet. Their defense is still stacked with elite talent, and one of those young stars is reportedly on the verge of making history — and a fortune.
According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter is the next player in line to reset the market at his position. And not just by a little — insiders say we’re talking about a deal that could blow past every previous record for a defensive tackle.
“I still expect the next record-setting contract to go to Carter, who might be the best young defensive tackle in football,” Barnwell wrote. “Last season didn’t go as planned for Carter, who started the season with a bizarre ejection for spitting on Dak Prescott before missing five other games because of injuries, but he still managed to make his second consecutive Pro Bowl. And it takes only a trip back to the 2024 playoffs to recall how dominant Carter can be at his best, down to winning the game against the Rams with a pair of pressures on the final drive of the contest.”
Barnwell projects an extension for Carter landing somewhere between $32 million and $35 million per season — numbers that would shatter the current highest-paid defensive tackle mark. Sources close to the situation claim Carter’s camp is absolutely pushing for that type of deal, and they want it done sooner rather than later.
But here’s where things get interesting. Carter was notably absent from practice on June 10th, and head coach Nick Sirianni clammed up when asked about it. Some insiders are buzzing that Carter might be protecting himself — not wanting to risk an injury before locking in that life-changing contract. It’s a tactic that has become increasingly common among stars in contract years.
And there’s another wrinkle: the Eagles’ salary cap situation. Philly reportedly has just $12.53 million in cap space for 2027, which means they’d have to perform some serious financial gymnastics to fit Carter’s monster deal under the cap. One league insider told us the team might need to restructure several contracts — or even move on from a veteran — to make the numbers work.
Barnwell is confident the Eagles will make it happen, though. “Given how aggressive the Eagles are with signing young players to contracts, expect it to happen before the start of the 2026 campaign,” he wrote.
If that’s true, Carter could become the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history before he even turns 25. And for a player who has already made two consecutive Pro Bowls despite off-field hiccups and injuries, the ceiling might be even higher than anyone imagined.
This could change everything for the Eagles — and for the entire NFC. If Carter gets his record-breaking bag and stays healthy, Philadelphia’s defense could be a nightmare for opposing offenses for years to come. But if the money doesn’t materialize, or if the cap situation forces a stalemate, this story is far from over.
One thing is certain: all eyes are on Carter and the Eagles front office. The pressure is mounting, and the clock is ticking.
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