Jalen Carter has spent the summer looking like a problem nobody wants to solve.
For the Philadelphia Eagles, that’s exactly the point. Their defense is built on disruption, and Carter sits right in the middle of it all, the force that makes the whole thing go. Entering his fourth season, the star interior lineman has been on a tear, and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt says the next step is simple: keep it going.
“Just to be a consistently dominant player,” Hurtt said. “Not just the flash plays but consistently dominant down in and down out, doing the little things the right way. I would say this training camp has been a commitment and a start of that, so that’s what I’m proud of seeing from him.”
Carter, who recently became the highest-paid defensive tackle in history, has the kind of ceiling that puts Defensive Player of the Year talk on the table. If he stays healthy and stays locked in, there’s no obvious reason he can’t chase that award in 2026. When he’s at his best, only Myles Garrett really belongs in the same breath among defensive linemen who can completely wreck a game.
The nickname says plenty. “The Baby Rhino” fits Carter’s blend of ferocity and raw power, and it helps explain why so many around the league were stunned when Eagles general manager Howie Roseman landed him with the 9th overall pick in the 2023 draft. Carter has the rare ability to create chaos in the trenches snap after snap, and that kind of impact travels.
Zach Berman of The Athletic sees the same path opening up. He pointed to Carter’s health, his contract, and the way he looked in the postseason in January 2025 as reasons this season could be the one where everything clicks.
Carter has 13.5 sacks in three seasons, and Berman noted that his statistics have not matched his impact on games. He also said it would be tough for a defensive tackle to win the award without double-digit sacks.
“The Eagles might have the NFL’s best defense this season, and Carter could be their best player. He signed a deal making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL.
He enters this season healthier than last year. Remember how he looked in the postseason in January 2025?
Carter can have that effect all year. His statistics have not matched his impact on games in his career (13.5 sacks in three seasons), though it wouldn’t be far-fetched to see that sack number increase.
It would be difficult for a defensive tackle to win the award without double-digit sacks.
"Carter’s preseason odds have been in the top 10 in this category by multiple sportsbooks. Jalen Hurts as MVP was under consideration, although I’m not sure he’ll accumulate prolific passing numbers even if the Eagles are among the NFL’s best teams. Carter leading the NFL’s No. 1 defense might be a better path to an award."
The pieces are all there for Carter: the big contract, the healthier body, the summer dominance and the chance to anchor what could be the league’s best defense. His first two seasons hinted at this level.
Last season left room for more. Now he’s back with a vengeance, and the path to defensive player of the year is right there in front of him.
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Eagles Quietly Fixed A Week 1 Problem Fans Remember Too Well
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Mundt joins a tight end room that still has Dallas Goedert as the biggest receiving threat, along with E.J. Jenkins and rookie Eli Stowers, giving the Eagles a blend of roles as they get ready for Washington in Week 1. The move does not change the identity of the group, but it does suggest the staff is serious about cleaning up a part of the offense fans noticed last year, even if the bigger questions around usage and matchups are still waiting to be answered. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Camp Battle Fans Should Feel Better About
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Drew Kendall and Willie Lampkin have been the most visible parts of that battle, each showing enough at guard to make a real case for playing time. Both have also contributed heavily in preseason action, and offensive line coach Chris Kuper has pointed to their progress and consistency throughout camp, which is exactly the kind of development the Eagles want to see before the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Home Opener Could Mean More Than Fans Realize
The Eagles are getting set for their Week 1 home opener against the Washington Commanders, and the usual buzz around the start of a new season carries a quieter layer of significance. For Philadelphia, this one could double as a look at two familiar faces who have been part of some of the franchises biggest moments: veteran tight end Dallas Goedert and right tackle Lane Johnson.
Goedert is playing on a one-year deal, with Eli Stowers waiting in the wings as a possible successor, while Johnson is viewed as someone who may be nearing the finish line of his career. Both have been central figures for the Eagles and have helped deliver two Super Bowl rings, which makes the possibility of this being their last home opener at Lincoln Financial Field feel like more than just another early-September game. [Read more 🡒]