Jalen Carter Slips to No. 2 in DT Rankings Behind a Titans Veteran Who Just Had His Best Year

Jalen Carter is still a problem for NFL offensive lines. The Eagles defensive tackle is 6-foot-3, 314 pounds, goes by “Baby Rhino,” and already has two Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl ring at 24 years old. But when Sports Illustrated stacked the top-10 defensive tackles for the 2026 season, Carter landed at No. 2.

The guy above him? Jeffery Simmons of the Tennessee Titans. That’s a veteran who just turned 28 and put together his best season yet.

Simmons earned the top spot with a monster year

Simmons played 15 games in 2025 and put up 11 sacks, 67 tackles and 21 quarterback hits. That production earned him first-team All-Pro honors. It’s hard to argue with numbers like that, especially when Carter’s 2025 season was cut short by injury. Carter appeared in only 11 regular-season games and finished with 7.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 28 QB hits over the last two seasons combined.

Still, the gap between them isn’t massive. Simmons has been in the league since 2019 and this was his first time hitting double-digit sacks. Carter is only three years in and has already shown he can dominate when healthy.

What the analysts are saying about Carter

SI’s Karl Rasmussen wrote that Carter “is a nightmare for opposing offenses, thanks to his remarkably quick first step.” The scouting report on Carter has always been about that explosion off the snap. He forces offensive lines to double-team him, which opens things up for teammates like Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith on the edge. Over the past two seasons, Carter has also batted down 13 passes, which is rare for an interior lineman.

The Eagles defense under Vic Fangio has been good for Carter. He’s shown he can thrive in that system. The question isn’t talent. It’s whether he can stay on the field for 17 games.

A nine-figure contract is coming

Carter is eligible for a contract extension soon, and all signs point to him getting paid like a top-five defensive tackle. His rookie deal runs through 2026, but the Eagles typically lock up their core players early. If Carter puts together a full, healthy season in 2026, that number only goes up.

For now, Simmons has the crown. But Carter has the kind of quick-twitch power that can flip a ranking like this in one season. The Titans veteran might be No. 1 today. The Eagles’ third-year lineman has time to change that.