Jalen Carter should be smiling.
Every major NFL contract has ripple effects with other players. Friday’s new deal for Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons pushed the top of the market at the position from $31.75 million per year to $35.2 million.
That becomes directly relevant to Carter’s unsettled contract situation in Philadelphia.
Carter has become one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL, after only three seasons. By making it to multiple Pro Bowls, his fifth-year option for 2027 has spiked to $27.127 million. His franchise tag, as of 2028, will be at least $32.554 million.
In March, a report surfaced that the Eagles had gotten calls about a trade for Carter. Which seemed to come from a leak calculated to invite more calls — and possibly encouraging backchannel conversations that would allow Carter to conclude that whatever the Eagles may have been offering is in line with what he could get elsewhere.
Since then, Carter was an apparent hold-in during mandatory minicamp. Although coach Nick Sirianni declined to say why Carter wasn’t participating in team drills, Sirianni didn’t need to.
Carter wisely isn’t doing anything that may put himself at risk until he gets paid. Especially since he’s due to be paid only $3.723 million in 2026.
The Eagles usually do a good job of getting guys signed early, because delay always pushes the bar higher. In Carter’s case, the Simmons contract does precisely that.
Now, the target for the new-money APY on a new deal won’t be a click above $31.75 million. Carter will reasonably believe that he should come in ahead of $35.2 million.
So what would it take to get to $35.3 million? With $30.85 million due over the next two years, a five-year, $136.75 million deal would get there.
That’s the minimum, at this point. And Carter likely won’t be doing anything during training camp until he gets there.
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