Eagles Lock Up Jalen Carter With Record Defensive Tackle Contract Through 2031

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Jalen Carter on a four-year contract extension that will run through the 2031 season, making him the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the deal includes $106 million in guaranteed money. The agreement removes a significant personnel question as the team prepares to open training camp this week.

Carter, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, was drafted ninth overall in 2023. The Eagles had previously exercised his fifth-year option for the 2027 season. The 25-year-old defensive tackle has accumulated 13 1/2 sacks across 43 career games, though he missed three contests last season due to injuries, and played a crucial role in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl victory following the 2024 campaign.

In his rookie year, Carter finished runner-up for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, losing to Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson. He earned his Pro Bowl selections for both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. His addition to the Eagles’ secondary defensive signings follows a three-year, $65 million guaranteed extension with defensive tackle Jordan Davis completed in March.

Carter, a two-time national champion at Georgia, has faced multiple off-field issues throughout his career. He was involved in a crash that resulted in the death of a teammate and recruiting staff member, for which he received probation and a fine. During a 2025 game against the Dallas Cowboys, he was ejected for spitting on quarterback Dak Prescott and forfeited his Week 1 salary as a result.