Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons' new contract with the Tennessee Titans has reset the market for elite defensive tackles, potentially setting the benchmark for what the Philadelphia Eagles DT Jalen Carter could command on his next deal.

Simmons signed a massive deal with the Titans, agreeing to a three-year, $105.8M with $100M guaranteed, earning an average annual value (AAV) of $35.3M.

The Eagles have currently exercised the fifth-year option on Carter’s contract, making him stay with the team through 2027.

“This development gives Carter and the Eagles some more framework for a long-term extension,” per Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation. “Carter is not quite yet as accomplished as Simmons, but he is obviously younger and is still considered to have big-time upside. And the market rate is only ever going up, not down.”

The Eagles have already exercised Carter's fifth-year option, keeping him under team control through the 2027 season. Long-term extension talks remain unresolved. He was a first-round pick (No. 9 overall) by the Eagles in the 2023 NFL draft.

He has earned two consecutive Pro Bowl nods in 2024-25, and a Super Bowl win in his second year with the Eagles in 2024. He recorded a total of 33 tackles (21 solo), five tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, and three sacks for 11 games played in 2025. 

Carter initially signed a four-year, $21.8M rookie contract, including a signing bonus of $12.85M, with an AAV of $5.45M. 

His market value is expected to increase by 4.9 times (annually) if the Eagles extend him a four-year contract of $107.69M, earning an AAV of $26.92M, according to Spotrac

Gowton believes that the Eagles would likely extend his contract before he enters the 2026 season, citing an example of the team signing DT Jordan Davis after he played out the final year of his rookie contract.

While Simmons' extension has provided a clear framework for Carter's future earnings, Gowton believes the Eagles may not be in a rush to finalise a long-term deal.

Analyst Believes Eagles May Wait On Jalen Carter Extension

According to a mailbag entry from Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Eagles are 'hesitant to pay Carter', as he believes that the Eagles always sign their players earlier, to get better prices.

"And I’d guess if they do one now, before his fourth season as a pro, then it’d come with flexibility for the team," Breer wrote. "If Carter won’t give them that flexibility now, maybe he’ll just wait another year."

Breer added, "Which would make this a little like the George Pickens situation in Dallas—where a team might want to see a little more from a player, just from a character perspective, before committing long term."

Carter skipped the team's voluntary OTAs but attended the mandatory mini-camp (June 9 & 10). He did not participate in team drills, raising speculation about contract holdout or lingering shoulder recovery issues.

As a result, Carter's contract situation could remain unresolved for now as the Eagles continue evaluating their long-term commitment.

What are your thoughts on the Jalen Carter situation? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Rudra Dubey