Speculation has centered on the Philadelphia Eagles and star defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Carter is under contract for the next two seasons and is slated to hit free agency in 2028. If the Eagles are hesitant to lock in a long-term extension for the 25-year-old, could they be open to trading him?
Analyst Larry Krueger suggested that trading for Carter could make more sense for the 49ers in the long term than trading draft capital for a player approaching his 30s. “I’m very concerned about trading for Garrett, Crosby, or anybody, giving up assets and future draft choices for somebody in that 30 range. Jalen Carter is more of a long-term play,” Krueger said on the June 20 edition of The Krueg Show. “The other thing I kind of like about the Jalen Carter thing is I’m both interested and not interested.”
The primary concern Krueger noted about a potential Carter trade would be the draft capital required. “I’m not interested if I gotta trade two first-round picks and a third-round pick,” he said. “I’m not interested. I’d be like, ‘Eh, no, too rich for my blood,’ especially with a guy who’s going to command $30 million-plus per year on a contract extension and also has had some off-field issues. So three draft choices doesn’t jive. But you don’t know how motivated the Eagles are.” Krueger added that there might be room to structure a deal with younger players to offset draft picks.
He floated the idea of including a young player to balance the compensation, suggesting a package could be more palatable if it involved a combination of draft picks and young veterans that the 49ers feel they don’t necessarily need. If the Eagles were open to a deal that included some established players in exchange for fewer draft picks, Krueger indicated this could be preferable to surrendering multiple high picks.
The discussion around Jalen Carter’s situation is partly driven by notes from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who observed that it’s notable the Eagles have not yet extended Carter. Breer pointed out that Philadelphia tends to pay their own players early to secure favorable terms and that delaying an extension could signal flexibility for the team. Carter logged significant playing time last season, recording 640 snaps, a 60.0 overall PFF defensive grade, 41 total pressures, three sacks, 30 hurries, eight QB hits, and 18 solo tackles against the run.
Carter’s contract status and performance have kept him at the center of trade discussions as teams weigh how soon to commit to a high-value extension versus pursuing fresh talent via trades. The Eagles’ approach to long-term contracts and Carter’s market value factor heavily into any potential trade talks, along with the 49ers’ own draft-capital considerations and strategic needs on defense.
In summary, while the 49ers have been linked to multiple veteran pass rush targets, there is also a compelling case for pursuing a younger, high-potential defensive lineman who could provide long-term value. The balance between draft capital and player value, along with contract implications for a player in Carter’s age and price range, will shape any decision. As teams evaluate their defensive lines, the possibility of a Carter-linked deal remains a topic of interest for fans and analysts alike.
