Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field.
When the Philadelphia Eagles selected defensive tackle Jalen Carter out of Georgia with the ninth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the feeling around the league was that they had gotten a steal.
Carter, once in discussion for the No. 1 overall pick, slipped down draft boards after his involvement in a street racing incident that led to the deaths of former teammate Devin Willock and Georgia staffer Chandler LeCroy.
Through his first four seasons in the NFL, Carter has been nothing short of dominant. He was the runner-up for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2023. He has made two Pro Bowl appearances and helped lead the Eagles to a victory in Super Bowl LIX.
However, now it appears that the character concerns that caused him to drop in the draft could also see his time in Philadelphia cut short.
Philadelphia Eagles Hesistant To Extend Jalen Carter Due To Character Concerns
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer was recently asked if Carter’s future in Philadelphia is in doubt after the team delayed offering him a contract extension and allegedly shopped him around in the offseason.
Breer’s answer makes it clear that the Eagles front office appears unsold on the 25-year-old defensive tackle.
“The fact that we’re into June without Jalen Carter having a deal is notable,” Breer wrote. “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.
“If Carter won’t give them that flexibility now, maybe he’ll just wait another year. 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.”
If Philadelphia were to trade Carter, they’d likely receive a haul for the young defensive star. The New York Jets received a first and second-round pick from the Dallas Cowboys for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams a year ago, and while Carter will soon need a new contract, he’s also three years younger than Williams.
However, the Eagles recently parted ways with star wide receiver A.J. Brown after he requested, and was granted, a trade to the New England Patriots.
So it’s easy to wonder how much Philadelphia really wants to mess with the core of a team that won a Super Bowl just two years ago.