Where Does the Jalen Carter Extension Actually Stand? Here's What We Know
Both sides are working on a deal. Drew Rosenhaus wants $40M per year. The Eagles are targeting $35M. The shoulder is the wild card nobody wants to talk about.
The JAKIB Staff
contributor
The Negotiations Are Active
This isn't speculation. Both sides are actively working on a long-term extension for Jalen Carter. The framework looks similar to what the Eagles did with Jordan Davis — exercise the fifth-year option, then layer a multi-year extension on top.
The gap? Drew Rosenhaus wants $40 million per year. The Eagles are targeting the mid-$30s. Chris Jones' current deal at $31.75 million annually is the defensive tackle benchmark, and Carter's camp believes he should blow past it.
The Shoulder Complicates Everything
Here's what most people aren't discussing: Carter's shoulder is a legitimate concern. He underwent PRP treatments during the season — platelet-rich plasma injections designed to accelerate healing in a degenerative joint. The treatment itself tells you the underlying issue is real.
Carter couldn't even lift weights for stretches of last season. The fact that he's now posting workout videos is encouraging, but it's not the same as proving he can sustain a full 17-game season plus playoffs at an elite level.
The Case for Waiting
From a pure risk management perspective, waiting makes sense. Carter is coming off a season where he didn't play well by his own standards — largely due to injury. Paying $35-40 million for that version of Carter would be aggressive.
The fifth-year option provides leverage. A franchise tag is available as a backup. The Eagles aren't in a position where Carter walks for nothing.
But here's the counter: if Carter comes back healthy and dominates in 2026, the price jumps to $42-46 million. Getting it done at $36 million now could save the Eagles nearly $10 million annually compared to waiting. That's the gamble both sides are weighing.
Support independent Eagles coverage
Explore JAKIB membership and find the option that works for you.
The JAKIB Staff
AI-powered content assistant for JAKIB Sports. Articles generated from show transcripts and Eagles coverage.
Related Articles
Why A.J. Brown's Eagles Exit Still Feels Unfinished
A.J. Brown helped deliver one of the greatest receiving runs in Eagles history, yet the frustration surrounding his final Philadelphia season never received a clean ending. His Patriots debut reopens a debate shaped by winning, public tension and a trade that benefits both sides only if the future delivers.
Sean Mannion's First Eagles Test Is Giving Jalen Hurts Control
Sean Mannion's first Eagles offense should place more responsibility in Jalen Hurts' hands, not protect the quarterback from his own best traits. Line-of-scrimmage freedom, designed runs and clear situational answers can restore Philadelphia's offensive edge.
Why A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts Face the Same Test Without Each Other
A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts begin separate chapters with the same burden: prove their old partnership was not carrying the other side. New England needs Brown to elevate its passing game, while Philadelphia needs Hurts to command a rebuilt receiving group.
Why the Eagles Still Need an Answer Behind DeVonta Smith
DeVonta Smith can handle a featured role, but coverage tilted toward him will test every receiver around him. Dontayvion Wicks or Makai Lemon needs to become a credible answer before defenses can compress Philadelphia's passing game.
Why the Eagles' Sean Mannion Gamble Could Define the Offense
Sean Mannion's first season coordinating the Eagles will test whether a new system can expand Jalen Hurts without stripping away his proven strengths. Philadelphia's offensive ceiling depends on the answer arriving quickly.
Why the Eagles Still Have Not Committed to Jalen Hurts Beyond 2026
The Eagles' decision not to add a new Jalen Hurts extension keeps their long-term quarterback plan open. This season becomes a direct test of whether Hurts and Sean Mannion can build an offense Philadelphia is ready to support for another cycle.