Early in 2026, the Jacksonville Jaguars were linked to Jalen Carter, and understandably so. Defensive tackle was a question mark (and may still be), and trading for the Pro Bowl defensive tackle would have addressed the issue. However, the speculation died down, and the Jags chose to instead trade for Ruke Orhorhoro and draft Alber Regis to bolster the interior defensive line.
Not surprisingly, Carter is once again at the center of trade chatter, but unlike a few months ago, it probably doesn't make sense for the Jags to set their sights on him.
The Eagles haven't extend Jalen Carter, could place him on the trade block
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes that the Eagles have been hesitant to extend Jalen Carter, noting that they would want flexibility if they were to reach any time soon.
As Breer points out, this is notable, as Philly has made an aggressive effort to lock up its own talent. For instance, fellow defensive tackle Jordan Davis already got a new deal, but Davis is still waiting.
But despite the Eagles' reluctance to pay Carter, other teams have wasted no time reaching out to see if the defensive tackle is available. This is understandable when you take into account that he's made the Pro Bowl twice and earned a Second-Team All-Pro designation.
On the other hand, Carter's maturity appears to be a concern, as he has been ejected from games and penalized for personal fouls. When you add it all up, it's not surprising to see Philadelphia take a deliberate approach.
This begs the question, would it make sense for the Jaguars to trade for Carter? It's worth noting that they haven't been seen as a landing spot for him this time around, still it's fair to wonder whether they should consider pulling the trigger.
Why the Jaguars should steer clear of Jalen Carter
The Jaguars are looking for intangibly rich players — players who love football and are gritty — to build their roster. It's hard to tell if Jalen Carter fits that mold, but even if he does, Jacksonville may have other reasons not to pursue the 2023 first-round pick. For starters, trading for him won't come cheap.
The Eagles will probably want a first-round pick and another pick to get a deal done. While there's no doubt that Carter would give Jacksonville a massive boost on the interior defensive line, that's a hefty price to pay for him, and that's without taking into account that the Jags would have to give him a new deal. That could turn out to be an issue, as defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons just raised the bar at the position with an extension that averages $30 million per year.
That's simply too much to pay for a player who's talented but comes with character flags. And that's the thing, it wouldn't make sense to give up a first-rounder for a one-year rental, so Jacksonville would have to make a long-term commitment to Carter. That would, in turn, leave them with enough resources to address the larger scale roster in the draft or extend players eligible for new deals.
Specifically, the Jags may not have enough space to re-sign wide receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange if they traded for Carter.
When you add it all up, the cons outweigh the benefits of acquiring Jalen Carter. Barring anything unexpected, you probably won't see the Jaguars making a bid for him. At this point, they're better off rolling with their current group and making changes until 2027.
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