Inside the Jalen Carter deal

Posted by Admin July 31, 2026 NFL

Earlier this week, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter became the highest-paid interior defensive lineman in NFL history.

The full details are now out.

Here’s the breakdown, per a source with knowledge of the terms:

1. Signing bonus: $22.5 million.

2. 2026 base salary: $1.145 million, fully guaranteed.

3. 2026 weight bonus: $250,000, fully guaranteed (but must be earned).

4. 2027 option bonus: $14.94557 million, fully guaranteed.

5. 2027 offseason workout bonus: $500,000, fully guaranteed (but must be earned).

6. 2027 base salary: $1.26 million, fully guaranteed.

7. 2027 weight bonus: $250,000, fully guaranteed (but must be earned).

8. 2028 option bonus: $27.435 million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027.

9. 2028 offseason workout bonus: $500,000, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027.

10. 2028 base salary: $1.305 million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027.

11. 2028 per-game roster bonus: $510,000 total, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027.

12. 2028 weight bonus: $250,000, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027.

13. 2029 option bonus: $33.39 million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2028.

14. 2029 offseason workout bonus: $500,000, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2028.

15. 2029 base salary: $1.35 million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2028.

16. 2029 per-game roster bonus: $510,000 total, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2028.

17. 2029 weight bonus: $250,000, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2028.

18. 2030 option bonus: $35.26 million.

19. 2030 offseason workout bonus: $500,000.

20. 2030 base salary: $1.48 million.

21. 2030 per-game roster bonus: $510,000 total.

22. 2030 weight bonus: $250,000.

23. 2031 option bonus: $35.215 million.

24. 2031 offseason workout bonus: $500,000.

25. 2031 base salary: $1.525 million.

26. 2031 per-game roster bonus: $510,000 total.

27. 2031 weight bonus: $250,000.

The four-year extension has a base value of $152 million, for a new-money average of $38 million per year.

The contract includes a $4 million escalator for 2030 and a $4 million escalator for 2031, pushing the total potential value to $160 million.

With two remaining years and a payout of $30.85057 million, the total base value over six years is $182.85057 million. That’s a per-year average from signing of $30.475 million.

The structure makes the first two years — $40.85057 million — fully guaranteed. The timing of the 2028 an 2029 guarantees makes the first four years — $106.85057 — guaranteed as a practical matter.