Jalen Carter Rises 14 Spots in NFL Top 100 Despite Injury-Interrupted Season
Less than a month after the Philadelphia Eagles rewarded defensive tackle Jalen Carter with a massive contract extension, the All-Pro is once again in the spotlight. Carter was ranked No. 29 on the 2026 NFL Top 100 Players list, as voted on by nearly 500 active NFL players. The ranking represents a 14-spot jump from 2025 and further reinforces how highly Carter is regarded by his peers around the league.
During the filming of this year’s rankings, several players highlighted Carter as one of the league’s most talented interior defensive linemen. Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby and Titans defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons both enthusiastically mentioned Carter as a player they would “really want to play with” Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs also praised Carter’s intelligence and understanding of the game. Carter’s current and former teammates offered similar praise. Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean and former Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean, now with the Raiders, discussed their experiences playing alongside Carter and the impact he can have on a defense.
The recognition is particularly notable considering Carter’s 2025 season was interrupted by several setbacks. Carter was ejected just six seconds into the Eagles’ season opener against the Dallas Cowboys after spitting at quarterback Dak Prescott in retaliation. He later missed additional time while recovering from procedures on both shoulders and was held out of the Eagles’ Week 18 matchup after the team had already secured its postseason position.
Despite appearing in just 11 games between the regular season and postseason, Carter remained productive, posting up 36 total tackles, including 22 solo tackles, along with 41 pressures, 12 quarterback hits, seven pass deflections and four sacks. However, his double-team rate also dropped to just under 42%, the lowest mark of his career. While that could suggest opposing offenses were not consistently committing multiple blockers to Carter, his reduced workload and missed games likely played a significant role in the decrease. In previous seasons, his double-team rate has reached as high as 67%, a figure more in line with other highly regarded interior defensive linemen such as Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Rams defensive lineman Braden Fiske.
On the surface, Carter’s 2025 production represented a step back from the statistical heights of his previous seasons. However, the NFL Top 100 results suggest his reputation among his peers has not followed the same trajectory.
In fact, Carter moved up 14 spots.
That distinction is significant. The NFL Top 100 is voted on by the players who line up against these athletes every Sunday, giving the rankings a unique perspective on how players around the league view their peers. For Carter, the result is a strong indication that his talent and potential remain widely respected despite an injury-interrupted 2025 campaign. Now, with a new contract in hand and a healthier Carter preparing for the 2026 season, the Eagles will be counting on their star defensive tackle to return to the dominant form that made him one of the league’s most highly regarded young defenders.
Michael Roscoe / Olde City Sports Network
Photo Credit / ESPN
Photo Credit / Yahoo Sports
Photo Credit / Philadelphia Eagles
