Simmons’ $35.2M – Jeffery Simmons’ new contract for the Titans pushed the defensive tackle market up to $35.2 million per year, directly changing the stakes of Jalen Carter’s unsettled situation with the Eagles. With Carter’s 2027 option and franchise-tag numbers already climbi
Jalen Carter should be smiling—if the smile came with a contract number attached.
On Friday, the Titans made sure defensive tackle money moved up a notch. Jeffery Simmons’ new deal lifted the top of the market at the position from $31.75 million per year to $35.2 million per year. For Carter, that figure is no longer just a headline. It’s the ceiling he and the Eagles are now implicitly negotiating against.
Carter’s own holdout in Philadelphia has been unfolding alongside a clear math problem. After only three seasons. he has already become one of the NFL’s dominant defensive players. making it to multiple Pro Bowls. His fifth-year option for 2027 has jumped to $27.127 million, and his franchise tag as of 2028 will be at least $32.554 million.
The Eagles’ situation was complicated further in March, when a report surfaced that they had gotten calls about trading Carter. The way that rumor landed mattered: the reporting was framed in a way that suggested a calculated leak—one designed to invite more calls and possibly set up backchannel conversations so Carter could close the gap between what Philadelphia might offer and what other teams could pay.
Since then, Carter’s message has been simple and visible. He was an apparent hold-in during mandatory minicamp. Coach Nick Sirianni declined to say why Carter wasn’t participating in team drills. but the decision not to risk anything before he gets paid has been the loudest part of the story. Carter isn’t doing anything that may put himself at risk until he’s paid. especially since he’s scheduled to earn only $3.723 million in 2026.
The uncomfortable reality is that the Eagles. like most teams. generally do well when they sign players early—because waiting always pushes the bar higher. In Carter’s case, the Simmons contract does exactly that. With the market’s new-money annual value now sitting at $35.2 million. Carter will have a reasoned expectation that his next deal doesn’t come in a cut below what’s just been set.
And it’s not just expectation. It’s timing and structure. The idea for Carter’s target new-money average per year on a new deal won’t be “a click above” the old $31.75 million number anymore. It’s now tied to the new baseline—$35.2 million. If Carter wants to reach $35.3 million, the math points to a five-year, $136.75 million deal.
That would be the minimum at this point. From there. the most likely next step looks less like an in-season sprint and more like a slow burn: Carter likely won’t be doing anything during training camp until he gets paid—because the new market is already telling him what the Eagles will have to match.
Jalen Carter Jeffery Simmons Philadelphia Eagles Tennessee Titans NFL contracts defensive tackle market franchise tag fifth-year option holdout mandatory minicamp Nick Sirianni
So Carter just needs to smile more? lol
I don’t even get this—Titans made Simmons get paid and now it’s Carter’s problem? Teams be playing chess but the fans just get stressed. Eagles shoulda paid him already.
Wait “ceiling he and the Eagles are negotiating against”?? That sounds like Carter’s already basically worth $35.2M now? But then it says franchise tag 2028 at least $32.554… so is he getting paid or just holding out forever. Nick Sirianni not explaining anything is so typical.
Philly really tried to play it cool with that trade calls rumor in March, like they were fishing for offers. Then Carter won’t show up to drills and somehow it’s a “math problem.” I mean 27.127 option in 2027 and at least 32.554 in 2028… sounds made up honestly. If he’s dominant, just sign and move on, right? But also I feel like the Titans deal changes everything overnight, so yeah good luck to the Eagles.