The Eagles just made their biggest defensive bet yet, and the ripple effect could reach all the way to Cooper DeJean.
Philadelphia locked up Jalen Carter on a four-year, $152 million extension that can climb to $160 million, a deal that blew past the old benchmark for defensive tackles and made him the highest-paid DT in NFL history. For a team that already handed Jordan Davis a major multi-year contract one year ago, it’s another massive commitment to the front of the defense.
That’s great news for the Eagles’ present. The long view is where things get tricky.
DeJean is part of the same young core that has made Philadelphia so dangerous, alongside Carter and Quinyon Mitchell. He’s already shown he can handle multiple roles in the secondary and even slide to safety when needed. Last season, both DeJean and Mitchell were First Team All-Pro selections, a huge payoff from the Eagles’ 2024 NFL Draft class.
But keeping that whole group together is another matter entirely. Carter and Davis now sit among the NFL’s top five defensive tackles by average annual value, and Mitchell is the kind of player the Eagles will have to prioritize even if it costs top-of-the-market money. That leaves less room to maneuver, and DeJean is not the type to give the team a discount just because he’s homegrown.
The money picture gets even tighter when you zoom out. Philadelphia is also staring at a pricey offense, with the long-term cost of keeping its celebrated offensive line intact likely to be steep.
Jalen Hurts has done enough to put himself in line for another long-term deal, and that negotiation figures to be a monster. He’s likely to bring his Super Bowl ring to the table when that time comes.
The Eagles have been one of the league’s best teams at restocking through the draft, but even that kind of talent pipeline has limits. Another big season from Mitchell could push Philadelphia toward an extension after the Carter deal, and that may leave DeJean as the odd man out financially.
In Other News...
Phillies Zero In On An Outfield Target Fans Have Wanted
The Phillies have been linked to another possible outfield fix as the trade deadline picture starts to come into focus, and the fit is easy to understand. Philadelphia has been looking for help in the outfield, the bullpen and the rotation, and the latest name to surface comes with the kind of defensive reputation that can appeal to a contender trying to tighten up around the edges. The attraction is obvious: a left-handed bat with proven versatility and a track record that suggests there is more offensive upside than the current numbers might show.
There are still reasons to pause before calling it a clean match. The handedness question matters, and so does the fact that any move would have to be weighed against the short-term nature of the deal. For a Phillies club trying to balance immediate upgrades with longer-term roster planning, this is the kind of target that makes sense on paper but still leaves plenty to sort through before anything gets serious. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Trade Talks Could Change Everything Fans Expected About This Core
A possible shakeup at shortstop is starting to hover over the Phillies offseason conversation, and it comes with the kind of ripple effect that can alter how the rest of the roster is built. ESPNs Jeff Passan reported the club is exploring a move that would bring in a 25-year-old right-handed hitter under control through 2029, a profile that would give Philadelphia a longer runway in the middle infield than it has now.
The fit is not simple, though, because adding that kind of player would almost certainly mean moving Trea Turner off shortstop and changing the shape of the infield. Any deal of this size would also come at a steep prospect cost, with names from the upper part of the system expected to be part of the conversation, which is why this is the sort of rumor that can quickly become a franchise-defining decision rather than just another winter rumor. [Read more 🡒]
National Insider Just Sent Phillies Fans A Surprising Deadline Message
The Phillies have spent the days after the All-Star break trying to steady themselves while the trade deadline looms, and the front office is still staring at a familiar list of needs. A No. 5 starter, a high-leverage reliever and a right-handed hitting outfielder all sit on the board, giving Dave Dombrowski plenty to weigh as he decides whether to chase a bigger splash or spread his resources around more carefully.
ESPNs Jeff Passan added an unexpected wrinkle to that conversation by suggesting it would be fine if Philadelphia does not come away with every item on its wish list. For a club built to win now, that kind of message cuts against the usual deadline urgency, but it also reflects the reality of protecting top prospects while trying to improve the roster in ways that actually matter in October. [Read more 🡒]