The Philadelphia Eagles have quietly built one of the NFL's most formidable rosters, and much of that success traces back to general manager Howie Roseman's masterful work in the draft. Widely regarded as one of the sharpest talent evaluators in the game, Roseman has consistently found impact players—even when those prospects come with some red flags.
That was certainly the case with defensive tackle Jalen Carter, whom the Eagles selected despite lingering questions about his character and focus. Two years later, that gamble looks like a home run. Carter has developed into a disruptive force on the interior, and now he's in line for a massive payday.
According to Bradley Locker, Carter's production speaks for itself: a 77.0 PFF pass-rush grade and 46 pressures generated in 2025. Over his young career, his 13.5% pass-rush win rate ranks ninth among qualified interior defenders—elite company for a player still finding his groove. The Eagles already locked up Carter's college teammate Jordan Davis to a big extension earlier this offseason, and the expectation is that Carter will be next.
Locker projects Carter could become the ninth Eagle to sign a contract worth at least $60 million, with a potential A.J. Brown trade helping free up the cap space needed to get the deal done. But the exact number remains a hot topic of debate.
On one hand, Carter has all the traits of a cornerstone defender who deserves top-tier money. On the other, his 2025 season wasn't without hiccups. Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that talks could hit a snag after Carter's slight regression last year. There was the ugly incident in the season opener where he spit on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and was ejected, plus shoulder injuries that required procedures and cost him four games.
Still, when healthy and focused, Carter is the kind of game-wrecker that offenses have to scheme around. The Eagles have a track record of betting on their homegrown talent, and all signs point to Carter being the next player to cash in. The only question now is just how big that number will be—and whether both sides can find common ground.