Jalen Carter signs record NFL deal

PHILADELPHIA – Former Georgia star Jalen Carter has become the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history after signing a four-year, $152 million contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Multiple reports said the deal, which can reach $160 million with incentives, includes $106 million guaranteed and carries an average annual value of $38 million. The extension keeps Carter under contract through the 2031 season.

The Eagles selected Carter with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft after he helped lead Georgia to consecutive national championships under coach Kirby Smart. In just three NFL seasons, he has developed into one of the league’s premier defensive linemen and a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s defense.

The 25-year-old has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first two full seasons and played a key role in the Eagles’ Super Bowl championship. Despite being limited to 11 games by shoulder injuries last season, Carter finished with 33 tackles, three sacks and a career-high seven passes defended.

For his career, Carter has totaled 108 tackles, 13.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 13 passes defended in 43 games, including 27 starts.

The extension continues Philadelphia’s commitment to building around its young core. The Eagles exercised Carter’s fifth-year option earlier this offseason before finalizing the long-term agreement. Earlier this year, the franchise also signed former Georgia standout Jordan Davis to a contract extension, ensuring the Bulldogs’ former interior defensive line tandem remains together in Philadelphia.

Carter was one of the most dominant defenders in Georgia history, earning unanimous All-America honors in 2022 after helping the Bulldogs capture back-to-back College Football Playoff national championships. His combination of size, strength and athleticism made him one of the nation’s top prospects before he entered the NFL.

The record-setting contract is another milestone for Georgia’s football program, which has become one of the nation’s top producers of NFL talent under Smart. Carter now joins an elite group of former Bulldogs who have signed landmark professional contracts, further highlighting Georgia’s reputation for developing championship-caliber defensive players.