The Philadelphia Eagles just made Jalen Carter the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history with a four-year extension worth $152 million. And if you thought the good vibes around Philly sports couldn’t get any louder, you weren’t watching ESPN’s NFL Live this week.
Dan Orlovsky, who lives in the area and has been watching this team closely, didn’t mince words when asked if the Eagles were right to lock up Carter. His answer was basically: absolutely, and here’s why this defense might be even scarier than the one that won the Super Bowl in 2024.
“Oh, big time. I mean, he’s been one of the best defensive tackles in football,” Orlovsky said. “And the fact that they’ve got Carter locked up now and you look at, at least on paper, this defense, you’re going, this is one of the most talented and youngest defenses in football.”
He pointed to the early schedule as a proving ground for a defensive line that now features Carter and Jordan Davis both under contract long-term. The Eagles also traded for Greenard, have Ojomo developing and still have Nolan Smith ready to wreck games. Orlovsky specifically called out a stretch against the Rams and Bears where Philly’s front will face some legit offensive lines.
“I think this has the chance to be once again a top-5 defense,” Orlovsky said. “And you’re talking about a defensive line that could resemble the one that we saw in 2024 when the Eagles won the Super Bowl, and they dominated people up front.”
It’s worth noting that Carter’s stat line in that Super Bowl wasn’t flashy — just two QB hits on Patrick Mahomes. But his presence alone warped the entire Kansas City game plan. Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Jordan Davis and Jalyx Hunt all got sacks because Carter demanded double teams and still pushed the pocket. That’s the kind of domino effect that doesn’t show up in a box score but wins championships.
Obviously the roster around him has changed some since then. But the core is still young, still cheap deals for now, and still terrifying for opposing offensive coordinators. Vic Fangio has to be smiling at the thought of deploying this line in 2026 with Carter fully healthy and motivated by that new money.
There was some concern early in the offseason that Carter might hold out for an extension. That worry got squashed fast when the Eagles made him the highest-paid interior lineman in league history. And with LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope bringing their talents to the Xfinity Mobile Arena down the street, the whole South Philadelphia Sports Complex feels like a party right now.
One thing Orlovsky made clear: this isn’t just hype. He sees a real path to another dominant season up front, and if Carter plays anywhere near his 2024 level, the Eagles could be right back in the Super Bowl conversation.
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