Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter is well on his way to becoming one of the premier players at his position, and most disruptive defenders across the NFL.
Carter, 24, enters the 2025 campaign fresh off Second-Team All-Pro recognition after posting a career-high 42 total tackles with 4.5 sacks in his second NFL season.
As training camp looms, Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema lists Carter as the No. 45 ranked player across the league, but points out one crucial area the former Georgia standout and first-round draft choice must build on to become truly elite.
“As a pure pass rusher, Carter could easily rank higher on this list,” Sikkema writes of Carter for PFF. “He’s coming off his second consecutive season with a pass-rush grade above 84.0, and his cumulative 89.3 mark over the past two years ranks third among defensive tackles, trailing only Chris Jones and Dexter Lawrence.
“However, his 14.2% pass-rush win rate sits outside the top 10 at the position, and his run-defense grade is just 61.0 over that span. If he can add more consistency against the run, Carter has the tools to climb these rankings and cement himself as one of the league’s premier interior defenders.”
As Carter enters his third season, there is certainly room for the 6-foot-3 and 314-pound defensive tackle to join Chris Jones and Dexter Lawrence among the top-three players in the NFL at a key position to championship success.
While Carter improving on his pass-rush win rate could make him an even more disruptive pass rusher, it’s noteworthy that he led all interior defensive lineman in forced fumbles, with two, and was second at his position with six batted passes, underscoring his versatility of disruptiveness.
Carter is one of the Eagles’ cornerstone defenders, and a key piece of coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense leading the league last season as well as Philadelphia’s aspirations to repeat as Super Bowl champs in 2025.
NFL Executives Bullish on Eagles’ Jalen Carter’s Future
Mitchell Leff | Getty Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive lineman Jalen Carter is a centerpiece of coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense.
Carter is already a centerpiece of the Eagles’ dominant defensive line, and according to NFL coaches, executives, and scouts, belongs in the conversation as one of the top-three interior defenders in the sport, right alongside Jones and Lawrence.
In ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler’s annual survey of league decision-makers, Carter emerged as the No. 3 ranked interior defensive lineman.
“Young player with elite tools, elite instincts and game-changing play ability,” a veteran NFL coach told Fowler. “Think the best is yet to come from him if he can keep his life in order. Has Hall of Fame-type ability and instincts.”
Last season, Fowler’s panel listed Carter as an honorable mention, underscoring his meteoric rise both in production and notoriety for the defending Super Bowl champions.
As Fowler points out, there is a belief that the one way Carter can climb these rankings even higher in 2025 is to “win more one-on-one matchups,” which would also obviously go a long way towards Philadelphia’s defense making major strides, by creating pressure with Fangio needing to dial up even fewer blitz packages in order to disrupt the quarterback.
Could Jalen Carter Reset The Market?
Mitchell Leff | Getty Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter is already among the most dominant defensive linemen in the league, and may be about to be paid as one, as well.
Ahead of Carter’s third season since being chosen No. 9 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, the expectation he could be in line for a colossal contract extension.
Currently one of the best bargains at the position, Carter is slated to collect $5.9 million in 2025 and $6.9 million in 2026, over the final two years of his rookie deal.
However, given Carter’s rapid ascent at the position combined with his 75 total tackles with 10.5 sacks through his first two seasons, general manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles might be preparing to sign Carter to a record-setting contract over the next calendar year.
There is some belief that Carter’s new deal could touch $40 million, annually.
“Jalen Hurts is the highest-paid Eagle ever at $51 million per year,” NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Reuben Frank points out. “And A.J. Brown is next at $32 million per year. But Carter will sign his deal two years after them, and with each passing year as the cap goes up, contracts go up.
“He’s not going to make quarterback money, but Roseman will make him one of the highest-paid defensive players in the game. And if he doesn’t quite reach $40 million per year, he’s going to be at or above Nick Bosa / Maxx Crosby / Danielle Hunter range, which is between $34 and $36 million per year. I’m thinking $37 or $38 million per year minimum. Carter is one of the best defensive players in football and he’s about to get paid for it.”
Carter’s pass-rush prowess and his dominance against the run make him a unique talent, and his value to the Eagles’ defense can’t be overstated.
Given that the Eagles have allowed veterans such as Milton Williams, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Darius Slay to walk this offseason could be telegraphing Roseman preparing to sign Carter to a historic contract to keep him in Philadelphia for years to come.
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