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Jeffery Simmons Extension Sets New Benchmark for Defensive Tackles, Puts Pressure on Eagles' Jalen Carter Negotiations
The Tennessee Titans announced on June 19, 2026 that defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons had signed a three‑year, $105.8 million extension. The deal, which averages $35.3 million per year, makes Simmons the highest‑paid defensive tackle in NFL history and resets the market for the position.
The extension comes after Simmons entered the penultimate year of a four‑year, $94 million rookie contract signed in 2023. The Titans’ announcement was made publicly by the team’s front office and was reported by multiple outlets, including the official Titans website and the Tennessee Titans’ press release.
The new contract raises the benchmark for interior linemen. Prior to Simmons’ deal, the highest annual rate for a defensive tackle was held by Kansas City Chiefs player Chris Jones, who earned $31.75 million per year on a 2024 contract. Simmons’ average annual value therefore represents a 10 percent increase over that figure.
Jalen Carter, the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting defensive tackle, is the next player whose contract could be affected by the new market level. Carter was selected ninth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and has earned second‑team All‑Pro honors in 2024. He helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX and the team exercised his fifth‑year option in April 2026, keeping him under team control through the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
According to reports from the Eagles’ front office, the team is in discussions with Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, about a long‑term extension. The Eagles have not yet agreed on a deal, and insider sources have described the organization as “hesitant” to commit to a new contract at this time. The Eagles’ general manager, Howie Roseman, has previously set precedent by securing a $26 million per year contract for defensive end Jordan Davis in the same offseason.
Roseman’s approach to roster building has emphasized prioritizing young cornerstone players and allocating cap space accordingly. The Eagles’ commitment to Davis, along with future obligations to players such as Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, creates a cap environment in which Carter’s extension will be a significant expense.
Trade speculation has also entered the conversation. Fox Sports floated a scenario in which Philadelphia could trade Carter to the San Francisco 49ers for two future first‑round picks and a third‑round pick, but the Eagles’ organization has made it clear that a trade is unlikely unless the parties can agree on a price that reflects the new market level. The Eagles have not traded Carter in any of their recent deals, indicating that the team views him as a long‑term asset.
The timing of Simmons’ extension has forced the Eagles to confront the possibility that Carter’s market value will rise. The organization’s current strategy appears to be to negotiate an extension that includes cap relief in a later year, a tactic that has been used in similar situations in the past.
As the NFL offseason progresses, the Eagles will need to balance the cost of a potential Carter extension against other cap commitments and the need to stay competitive in the NFC East. The team’s next major decision will likely come in the coming weeks as the league’s salary cap for the 2027 season is released.
In the meantime, the Eagles will focus on preparing for the upcoming training camp and the 2026 regular season. The organization’s leadership has stated that it remains committed to building a championship‑contending roster, and the outcome of Carter’s negotiations will be a key factor in that effort.
The Titans’ extension, the Eagles’ contract discussions, and the broader market shift for defensive tackles underscore the evolving financial landscape of the NFL. Teams that fail to adapt to the new benchmarks risk falling behind in the competitive balance of the league.
The Eagles’ next public update on Carter’s contract is expected in the coming weeks, and the team’s decisions will be closely watched by analysts and fans alike as the 2026 season approaches.
The extension comes after Simmons entered the penultimate year of a four‑year, $94 million rookie contract signed in 2023. The Titans’ announcement was made publicly by the team’s front office and was reported by multiple outlets, including the official Titans website and the Tennessee Titans’ press release.
The new contract raises the benchmark for interior linemen. Prior to Simmons’ deal, the highest annual rate for a defensive tackle was held by Kansas City Chiefs player Chris Jones, who earned $31.75 million per year on a 2024 contract. Simmons’ average annual value therefore represents a 10 percent increase over that figure.
Jalen Carter, the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting defensive tackle, is the next player whose contract could be affected by the new market level. Carter was selected ninth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and has earned second‑team All‑Pro honors in 2024. He helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX and the team exercised his fifth‑year option in April 2026, keeping him under team control through the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
According to reports from the Eagles’ front office, the team is in discussions with Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, about a long‑term extension. The Eagles have not yet agreed on a deal, and insider sources have described the organization as “hesitant” to commit to a new contract at this time. The Eagles’ general manager, Howie Roseman, has previously set precedent by securing a $26 million per year contract for defensive end Jordan Davis in the same offseason.
Roseman’s approach to roster building has emphasized prioritizing young cornerstone players and allocating cap space accordingly. The Eagles’ commitment to Davis, along with future obligations to players such as Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, creates a cap environment in which Carter’s extension will be a significant expense.
Trade speculation has also entered the conversation. Fox Sports floated a scenario in which Philadelphia could trade Carter to the San Francisco 49ers for two future first‑round picks and a third‑round pick, but the Eagles’ organization has made it clear that a trade is unlikely unless the parties can agree on a price that reflects the new market level. The Eagles have not traded Carter in any of their recent deals, indicating that the team views him as a long‑term asset.
The timing of Simmons’ extension has forced the Eagles to confront the possibility that Carter’s market value will rise. The organization’s current strategy appears to be to negotiate an extension that includes cap relief in a later year, a tactic that has been used in similar situations in the past.
As the NFL offseason progresses, the Eagles will need to balance the cost of a potential Carter extension against other cap commitments and the need to stay competitive in the NFC East. The team’s next major decision will likely come in the coming weeks as the league’s salary cap for the 2027 season is released.
In the meantime, the Eagles will focus on preparing for the upcoming training camp and the 2026 regular season. The organization’s leadership has stated that it remains committed to building a championship‑contending roster, and the outcome of Carter’s negotiations will be a key factor in that effort.
The Titans’ extension, the Eagles’ contract discussions, and the broader market shift for defensive tackles underscore the evolving financial landscape of the NFL. Teams that fail to adapt to the new benchmarks risk falling behind in the competitive balance of the league.
The Eagles’ next public update on Carter’s contract is expected in the coming weeks, and the team’s decisions will be closely watched by analysts and fans alike as the 2026 season approaches.
