Should Eagles Extend Jalen Carter Now? The Case for Patience

The Extension Question

Jalen Carter is extension-eligible this offseason, and his market value sits around $17.3 million annually according to projections. On paper, that's a screaming deal for a player who looked like a perennial All-Pro after his dominant 2024 campaign. But 2025 told a very different story.

The Carter we watched last season was not the same player who terrorized offensive lines the year before. Injuries clearly limited him, and the decline in production was stark enough to give any front office pause. So the question becomes: do you lock him up now at a potential discount, or wait to see if 2024 Carter returns?

The Medical Question Is Everything

This entire decision hinges on one factor: what do the Eagles' medical people say? If they're confident Carter's 2025 was purely injury-driven — a temporary setback rather than a harbinger of durability concerns — then extending him at $17-18 million annually is a no-brainer. You're getting a franchise-caliber interior defender at a below-market rate.

But if there's any hesitation from the medical staff, if there's a lingering question about whether Carter can sustain the snap load he requires to be dominant, then patience is the smart play. The Eagles have the luxury of time here — Carter is under contract through 2026 regardless.

The Bigger Picture

The extension calculus gets more complicated when you zoom out. After next season, both Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell become extension-eligible. Those two are tracking toward significant paydays, and the Eagles need to plan their cap architecture accordingly.

Then there's the Kam Jurgens precedent. The Eagles extended their young center last year despite some outside skepticism, trusting their internal evaluation over public perception. If they feel the same conviction about Carter's long-term health, expect them to act similarly.

The Drake May Comparison

There's a useful parallel in Drake May's situation in New England. May had an MVP-caliber regular season, then fell apart in the playoffs. Everyone — Patriots fans, analysts, the organization itself — is banking on injuries being the explanation. It's the hopeful interpretation, but hope isn't a strategy.

The same applies to Carter. You hope it was the injury. You probably believe it was the injury. But the smart move is to verify before committing significant guaranteed money. With Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and potentially a Jaelan Phillips extension all looming, every dollar of cap space matters.

At $17.3 million per year? If the medical checks clear, sign the man. That number is only going up, and a healthy Jalen Carter is one of the five best interior defenders in football.