The Philadelphia Eagles have reached a lucrative extension with defensive tackle Jalen Carter, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday. The massive four-year, $152 million deal makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.
There were serious questions as to whether Philadelphia was going to extend Carter, as it's obviously a hefty amount to commit to someone with a few concerns surrounding character and injury history. That made him a potential trade candidate that the Arizona Cardinals could've pursued, given his ideal fit with their rebuilding timeline at age 25.
Jalen Carter comes off the board as a potential trade target for Cardinals
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report even proposed a one-for-one swap in which the Cardinals send their own trade candidate, disgruntled veteran edge-rusher Josh Sweat, to reunite with the Eagles. That now seems off the table, especially considering the financial investment Philadelphia has tied into Carter.
It's a disappointing development for Arizona as it could've potentially presented a buy-low opportunity to come away with a polarizing star talent. If they do ultimately decide to trade Sweat, they'll now have to look elsewhere to find younger replacements.
Another option Moton also proposes is to turn Sweat into a 2027 Day 2 draft pick, which could be a more realistic option than finding an established piece like Carter.
Cardinals should still look to trade Josh Sweat
Hopefully they are able to find a contender who is willing to mortgage part of their future for a win-now piece like Sweat to help them get over the hump, turning that into a win-win scenario. Still, it won't have quite the same star excitement surrounding Carter, who has already emerged as one of the best defensive tackles in the league.
This is a high-risk, high-reward move for Philadelphia to continue betting on the talent. While it's likely the necessary move as they couldn't afford to let that talent walk out the building, it's an ovepay that carries a higher level of risk compared to a team like the Cardinals.
Arizona can afford to take these types of swings on players with question marks because they aren't in a position to win anytime soon. For the Eagles, justifying that commitment could be the difference in another ring. It's not as high-stakes a gamble for Arizona, making it more worthwhile to see if his talent can get them back into playoff relevancy.
Hopefully, another similar situation comes up around the league that the Cardinals can pursue. But if not, it could be in their best interest to shop Sweat for the best package of draft picks they can receive.
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