Jalen Carter's rise continues to spark discussions of a massive contract extension
It seems like Jalen Carter has been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles organization longer than he has been, but if the math is correct, we're entering the third year of his rookie contract. His fully guaranteed four-year, $21.8 million deal was signed in May of 2023.
It will pay him $5.9 million this season and another $6.9 million in 2026, with a likely fifth-year option, and a massive contract extension. Carter is still scratching the surface, but depending on who you speak with, the expectations are lofty. He's been named in comparison with names that raise eyebrows and induce adrenaline rushes: Jerome Brown, John Randle, and Aaron Donald.
Don't throw darts at the messengers. Carter earned this buzz on his own. As time passes, it will only continue to grow, and so will his price tag.
Expect to hear more about Jalen Carter's impending extension in the coming months.
There are two ways this can be handled. By being a first-round draft pick in 2023, Carter has a fifth-year option baked into his current deal. That means that, technically, Philadelphia has some time before they have to think about paying him, but there's another side to that coin. The longer it takes to iron out a deal, the higher the payday when said deal is finally offered.
Theories regarding potential compensation for the All-Pro defensive tackle vary, with estimates ranging from $31.75 million on the low end to over $35 million. Consider this: if Milton Williams is worth $26 million per year, what, then, is Carter worth? Chris Jones currently earns $31.75 million, but discussions suggest he could be worth even more.
Carter is now being compared to some of the best edge rushers in the game. Might Myles Garrett ($40 million), Maxx Crosby ($35.5 million), and Danielle Hunter ($35.6 million) be the more appropriate comps?
Philadelphia parted ways with everyone from C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Mekhi Becton to Milton Williams and Josh Sweat, allowing them the space to make long-term moves down the road. Keep in mind the fact that decisions must also be made about Reed Blankenship, Nolan Smith, and possibly Nakobe Dean and Kelee Ringo.
Looking for a prediction? The Eagles do what they always do. They pay Carter sooner rather than later, and he becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in the game.
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Indianapolis Star
13 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
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New York Times
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- New York Times
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Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
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