Jalen Carter Won't Sign Cheap — And the Market Proves He Shouldn't

Jalen Carter has been spotted in South Beach multiple times over the past few weeks, hanging out with his agent Drew Rosenhaus. And if you think that's just a vacation, you haven't been paying attention to the defensive tackle market.

The Market Has Exploded

Jaelan Phillips just signed for $30 million per year — and he's coming off shoulder concerns. Trey Hendrickson got $28 million. These are edge rushers, not interior linemen. But the precedent they set ripples through every defensive contract negotiation in the league. If edge rushers are getting $28-30 million, what does a 24-year-old interior pass rusher with Pro Bowl-caliber talent command?

The answer is north of $35 million. Probably closer to $40 million.

Why Carter Has All the Leverage

The Eagles will almost certainly pick up Carter's fifth-year option at $29 million. But that's just the floor. Carter's camp knows several things: the salary cap is rising every year, the defensive tackle market is thin on elite talent, and Philadelphia has already invested in Carter as a cornerstone piece. Letting him walk would be admitting the entire defensive rebuild strategy was a mistake.

Carter also watched the Eagles let Josh Sweat walk for $19 million last year — only to watch the edge market jump to $30 million twelve months later. If Rosenhaus is advising patience, it's because every week that passes without a deal is a week the market moves further in Carter's direction.

The 2025 Season Complicates Everything

Here's the wrinkle: Carter didn't have his best year. There were games — the 49ers playoff loss being the most glaring — where he was invisible. The Eagles need Carter playing like the 2024 version of himself, the one who was arguably the best interior defender in football. If he shows up in 2026 looking like the 2025 version, the Eagles might have buyer's remorse before the ink dries.

What Happens Next

The Eagles will pick up the option. Carter will bet on himself for one more season. And by March 2027, the conversation won't be about $40 million — it'll be about $45 million and whether the Eagles can afford to keep their entire defensive core together. The clock is ticking on this window, and Rosenhaus knows exactly how to play it.