Philadelphia, PA – July 11, 2025
In today’s NFL, loyalty doesn’t always pay. Contracts are public chess matches. Agents posture. Players hint. Teams hesitate. It’s business — often cold, calculated, and transactional.
But in Philadelphia, something different is happening.
The Eagles have a rising superstar on their hands. A dominant, game-wrecking force in the trenches. A player who, by all accounts, is on the path to shatter the market. And yet… he’s not asking for anything.
Jalen Carter, fresh off his first Pro Bowl selection, is eligible for a contract extension after the 2025 season. He’s well on his way to becoming one of the most feared interior defensive linemen in the NFL. With another elite season, he’s projected to command a deal that could eclipse the record-setting $31.75 million per year mark currently held by Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs.
But here’s the part that’s turning heads inside the building and across the fanbase: Carter isn’t chasing numbers. According to league insiders, he hasn’t brought up money. Hasn’t whispered about leverage. Instead, he’s made one thing clear behind closed doors:
“I trust the Eagles. Let them decide. I just want to earn it, the Philly way.”
It’s that mindset that’s resonated inside NovaCare. According to The Athletic’s Brooks Kubena, GM Howie Roseman has already begun preparing the books to accommodate what may become the biggest interior defensive contract in NFL history. Owner Jeffrey Lurie reportedly wants to set the market, not follow it — especially when it comes to players who embody the Eagles’ culture.
Jalen Carter via The Athletic:
"I didn’t come here to chase contracts. I came here to build a legacy in Philly — whatever the team decides, I trust it." pic.twitter.com/fwdVLy6GRR— MORGAN (@MORGAN671817548) July 11, 2025
And Carter? He doesn’t want to leave. He wants to become part of the city’s soul — not just as a player, but as a symbol.
In a league where stars jump teams, demand headlines, and push for max deals the moment they can, Carter’s silence says everything. He’s not playing the market. He’s playing for something bigger — for the badge on the helmet, and the people in the stands.
The Eagles know what they have. And they’re moving quietly but surely to make sure Jalen Carter stays in Midnight Green for a long, long time.
Stay tuned to ESPN for more on Carter’s next chapter in Philly.
