The Philadelphia Eagles have locked up one of the NFL’s premier defenders, agreeing to a four-year, $152 million contract extension with defensive tackle Jalen Carter — making him the highest-paid player ever at his position. According to multiple reports, the deal includes $106 million guaranteed and could reach a maximum value of $160 million through incentives. The extension keeps Carter under contract through the 2031 season after Philadelphia previously exercised his fifth-year option.

The agreement underscores the Eagles’ commitment to building around their dominant defensive front. Carter, selected ninth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Georgia, has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the past two seasons and emerged as one of the league’s most disruptive interior defenders. Through his first three NFL seasons, he has totaled 108 tackles, 13.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 13 passes defended while helping lead Philadelphia to a Super Bowl championship.

Although Carter was limited to 11 games last season because of shoulder and heel injuries, he remained a force along the defensive line, recording three sacks while consistently drawing double- and triple-team attention from opposing offenses. The Eagles announced the extension as players reported for training camp, reinforcing their long-term investment in a defensive unit anchored by Carter and fellow former Georgia standout Jordan Davis, who also received a lucrative extension earlier this offseason.

Carter’s new contract resets the market for defensive tackles, surpassing the previous annual average established by Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons. The agreement also ranks among the richest contracts in franchise history, trailing only quarterback Jalen Hurts in average annual value. By securing Carter through the end of the decade, Philadelphia has ensured one of the league’s cornerstone defensive players will remain a central piece of its championship aspirations for years to come.

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