Updated May 1, 2026, 6:37 p.m. ET

The Philadelphia Eagles will keep a very productive Georgia Bulldog for at least one more season. They’ve exercised the fifth-year option on Jalen Carter, according to the Athletic’s Zach Berman. The move will keep Carter with the team through at least 2027.

Carter’s option is valued around $27.1 million, and the option year is fully guaranteed, just as it is for his teammate Nolan Smith. The value is well worth it.

The Eagles selected Carter with the No. 9 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and he’s become one of the best defensive tackles in the league. Through three seasons, Carter has 108 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 13 1/2 sacks, 13 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and a 42-yard scoop and score.

Through three trips in the playoffs, Carter has 14 tackles, three tackles for loss and three sacks, including two against the Los Angeles Rams in the 2024 NFC Divisional round. He helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory against the Kansas City Chiefs that season.

The Eagles next need to work out a contract extension with Carter, though. They’ve signed teammate Jordan Davis to a three-year, $78 million deal, which was the largest annual average value deal given to a nose tackle in history. Carter could break the bank for three-technique defensive tackles, as Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs did.

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After Davis’ extension, there were rumors the Eagles received trade calls for Carter. However, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has seemingly put those rumors to bed. According to a January report by Zach Berman of The Athletic, Roseman said both Davis and Carter were his top extension priorities. He checked one of the boxes. With the Eagles picking up Carter’s option, Roseman is more than likely going to check both.

Carter was the potential No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. With the Bulldogs, he produced 83 tackles, 18 1/2 tackles for loss, six sacks, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He was a major contributor on the Bulldogs’ back-to-back national championship teams in 2021 and 2022, and he was an All-American in 2022.

Unfortunately, a major off-the-field controversy caused him to fall in the draft. The Eagles swooped in, trading up with the Chicago Bears to select Carter at No. 9.

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