Eagles Announce Contract Decisions on Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith

The Philadelphia Eagles exercised the fifth-year option for both defensive tackle Jalen Carter and linebacker Nolan Smith on Monday, the team announced.

Carter and Smith, former Georgia Bulldog teammates, both joined the Eagles as picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. The team’s decision to exercise both of these fifth-year options comes just a few days before the NFL deadline on May 1.

Carter and Smith are now under contract with the Eagles through the 2027 season. Carter’s fifth-year option is worth $27.1 million, while Smith’s is worth $13.7 million.

“We've exercised the 5th-year option for Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith through 2027,” the Eagles wrote in an announcement on social media.

Carter earned NFL Pro-Bowl selections in each of the last two seasons. Through his three years in Philadelphia, the former No. 9 overall draft pick has recorded 13.5 sacks, 108 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 37 QB hits and four forced fumbles.

He underwent procedures on both of his shoulders to repair lingering injury issues in December.

Smith, the No. 30 overall selection in the 2023 draft, has recorded 10.5 sacks, 91 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 25 QB hits and two forced fumbles through his three seasons with the Eagles.

The linebacker appeared in 12 regular-season games for Philadelphia in 2025 as he dealt with a re-aggravated triceps injury he initially sustained during Super Bowl LIX.

The Eagles exercised Jordan Davis’ fifth-year option last year. But last month, the team reached an agreement on a three-year, $78 million contract extension with Carter and Smith’s former Georgia teammate.

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This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 7:34 PM.