Eagles Face ‘Tricky' Jalen Carter Decision Ahead of Training Camp

After an 11-6 finish and a Wild Card exit last season, the Philadelphia Eagles are trying to position themselves to get back to the top of the mountain.

Their projected win total sits around 10.5 games, and many analysts still view them as legitimate contenders in the NFC.

With Jalen Hurts under center, Saquon Barkley in the backfield, and playoff experience across the roster, the Eagles still enter the 2026 season as the team to beat in the NFC East.

But with training camp set to open on July 28 at Jefferson Health Training Complex in Philadelphia, there’s another storyline that the Eagles are trying to navigate.

According to ESPN’s Tim McManus, Jalen Carter’s future in Philadelphia looks “tricky.” Jeffery Simmons just landed a three-year, $105.8 million extension with the Tennessee Titans, making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL with an annual average salary of $35.27 million. Now, Carter is next up.

The issue is that, while Carter is just 25 years old and already a two-time Pro Bowler, he’s also coming off a down year. In Week 1, he was ejected and later fined after spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, and was limited to just 12 games due to injuries to both shoulders. He recorded just 33 total tackles and three sacks all year. There are also reportedly some concerns after his involvement in a fatal car crash in 2023.

According to McManus, Carter’s camp could reasonably negotiate for a contract that tops Simmons’ deal with Tennessee, but the Eagles will push for protections that limit long-term risk.

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Carter was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Georgia. In his first season, he was the runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year and in his second season, he won a Super Bowl. In that 2024 season, he finished with 42 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles across 16 games.

The Eagles have already committed $26 million per year to their other young defensive tackle, Jordan Davis, and still have to worry about paying cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean down the line. Carter should remain a top priority, but cap space is being eaten up quickly.

Carter was reportedly a “hold-in” during mandatory minicamp, showing up to avoid fines but not participating in team activities, and he’s widely expected to do the same at training camp if no deal gets done.

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This story was originally published June 25, 2026 at 6:07 PM.