The Eagles just made a massive bet on Jalen Carter, and the ripple effect could reach all the way to Cooper DeJean.
Philadelphia handed Carter a four-year, $152 million extension that can climb to $160 million, a deal that blew past the previous high-water mark for average annual value among defensive tackles and made him the highest-paid DT in NFL history. For a team that has spent the last year locking down its young core, it was another loud statement from Howie Roseman.
But the message cuts both ways. With Carter now joined by Jordan Davis on a pricey defensive front, and with Quinyon Mitchell also in the mix as a player the Eagles have to keep, the financial squeeze is getting real. That’s where DeJean enters the picture, and why this extension may complicate his future in Philadelphia.
DeJean has already shown why he’s such a valuable piece. He can line up in multiple spots in the secondary and even slide to safety when needed. Last season, he and Mitchell both earned First Team All-Pro honors, giving the Eagles a rare draft haul that looked like the foundation of something special.
The problem is that foundations cost money. Carter and Davis now sit among the NFL’s top five defensive tackles by average annual value, and Mitchell is the kind of young defensive back the Eagles will have to pay if they want to keep the secondary intact. That leaves less room elsewhere, and DeJean is not the type to accept a discount just because he’s homegrown.
Philadelphia’s spending picture doesn’t stop on defense, either. The offense is heading toward its own expensive future, from the long-term outlook for the offensive line to Jalen Hurts, who has done enough to put himself in line for another big contract. The source of leverage is obvious enough: Hurts already has a Super Bowl ring, and that’s going to matter when negotiations begin.
The Eagles have built a reputation for restocking the roster through the draft, and they’ve done it as well as anyone. Still, even for a team that keeps finding young talent, there’s only so much money to go around. Another strong season from Mitchell could force the Eagles to move quickly on an extension after the Carter deal, and DeJean may be the one whose price tag becomes too hard to carry.
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LeSean McCoy then pushed the conversation in a different direction by questioning the sincerity of Clarks reaction, turning what might have stayed a workplace dispute into a public feud between two former Eagles. For Philadelphia fans, it is another reminder that the teams alumni network can still generate plenty of noise well beyond the field, especially when one of its most recognizable voices is suddenly at the center of an ESPN breakup. [Read more 🡒]
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Eagles Bet On The Trenches Before The Rest Of The NFL
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That approach looks even sharper when a player like Vita Vea enters the conversation, because elite defensive tackles rarely come available and the market for them would be robust. Tampa Bay would have a difficult time replacing what Vea brings to its defense, which has leaned on his presence up front, and any team weighing a move for him would have to decide whether the price of acquiring a difference-maker in the middle is worth the long-term commitment that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]