Despite previous offseason rumors about the Eagles receiving calls regarding a trade for Jalen Carter, Howie Roseman and the team are instead committing to the defensive tackle by picking up his fifth-year option. They’re also picking up the option on fellow 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith as well, as they work to keep as many of the Philly Dawgs together as possible.
Carter’s option is projected at $27.16 million while Smith’s is $13.75 million. The Eagles picking up these options doesn’t mean
they won’t also sign one or both of them to longer term contract extensions at some point in time.
Carter and Smith previously had one more season remaining on their rookie contracts but Eagles now have them under team control through 2027. These are the latest move by the team to keep these young defenders together, having signed Jordan Davis to an extension ahead of free agency — a three-year, $78 million extension to make him the highest paid nose tackle in the league.
As for Carter, his coaches spoke last season about his impressive play while also noting that they expect him to take a step in his conditioning. This is something they said about Davis earlier in his career, as well, but the DT made big strides, and Carter is capable of the same. The DT has been wreaking havoc on quarterbacks ever since coming to Philadelphia, and in 2025, recorded 33 total tackles, 12 QB hits, seven passes defended, and three sacks. He also earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his blocked extra point in Week 17, was voted to his second Pro Bowl, and is still only 24 years old.
Smith has continued to develop in his three seasons in Philly, and despite dealing with various injuries, was hugely impactful for the defense. In 2025, he had 11 QB hits in only 12 games, recoded three sacks, but with a group rush, the LB was a big reason for others successes, as well. Through three seasons, he’s recorded 91 total tackles, 25 QB hits, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Smith set to emerge as a leader among a group of edge rushers that includes Jalyx Hunt and newly acquired Jonathan Greenard.
Eagles’ GM Howie Roseman spoke this offseason about roster building and explained that their approach is to draft well and to re-sign players, rather than look outside for free agents. They’ve done just that with Carter and Smith, and now they’ll be in Philly demonizing quarterbacks for the foreseeable future.
