Jalen Carter’s contract talks remain stalled as the Eagles weigh his upside, work habits and whether he deserves to top Jeffery Simmons’ record deal for Philly.
The Philadelphia Eagles usually don’t wait around when they believe in a cornerstone player.
General manager Howie Roseman has built much of the franchise’s success by extending young stars before their price explodes.
That’s why the silence surrounding a possible Jalen Carter contract extension is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Carter is eligible for a new deal after emerging as one of the NFL’s most disruptive young defensive tackles.
His combination of power, quickness and interior pass-rushing ability gives him the talent to become the centerpiece of Philadelphia’s defense for years.
The question is whether the Eagles trust everything that comes with that talent.
Concerns about Carter’s conditioning, consistency and overall approach have followed him since before the 2023 NFL Draft.
Philadelphia still selected the former Georgia star with the No. 9 overall pick, betting that its veteran culture and strong locker room could help maximize his enormous potential.
So far, Carter has flashed exactly why the Eagles took that gamble.
But Philadelphia’s reluctance to immediately hand him a market-setting contract may suggest the organization still wants more proof.
The price also changed when Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons reset the position’s financial market.
Eagles reporter Jimmy Kempski believes Carter shouldn’t command more money than Simmons, whom he considers the NFL’s top interior defender.
“In my opinion, he does not deserve to be paid more than Jeffery Simmons,” Kempski wrote. “If Carter and his representation think they should be paid more than Simmons, then a deal probably won’t get done.”
Carter’s representatives can argue that age and future upside should work in his favor. He’s younger than Simmons and may eventually develop into an even more dominant player.
But NFL contracts aren’t awarded solely for what someone might become.
The Eagles have watched Carter inside their facility, in meetings, during practices and throughout the grind of an NFL season.
They know more about his habits than any outside evaluator. If Roseman believed Carter had already earned a blank check, history suggests the agreement might be finished by now.
That leaves Carter facing a pivotal training camp.
A dominant, focused preseason could strengthen his case and push Philadelphia toward a massive extension.
Any questions about effort or preparation could give the Eagles another reason to wait.
Carter has the talent to become the league’s highest-paid defensive tackle. Now he has to convince Philadelphia that paying for his ceiling won’t become an expensive mistake.
