Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith became Eagles exactly three years ago, and now they are under contract through 2027.

The Eagles exercised the fifth-year option for Carter and Smith on Monday afternoon. After strong starts to their NFL careers that included key contributions on the way to the team's Super Bowl LIX victory, Carter and Smith are tied to Philadelphia for the next two years.

The defenders from Georgia have been pillars on Philadelphia's defensive line since they arrived, and they were rewarded by the organization that gave them a chance in the 2023 NFL Draft.

DT Jalen Carter

Jalen Carter's impact in Philadelphia has been felt since Day 1.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, an All-Pro in 2024, and a key contributor to the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX victory. The ninth selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Carter quickly asserted himself in the league as a player with too much power, quickness, technique, and football IQ to block one on one.

He is consistently double- and triple-teamed, but that doesn't stop Carter from impacting the game on nearly every snap.

"I have the mindset," Carter says, "that nobody can outdo me."

He's got the right approach, that's for sure.

Having Carter as an anchor at 6-foot-3 and 314 pounds, as one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL per Pro Football Focus, and a run-stuffing force, sets up the rest of the defense. Offenses, for sure, keep No. 98 in focus when they gameplan to face the Eagles.

"He's one of the most dominant players in the league, if not the most dominant that I've seen," former Washington Commanders Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said late in the 2025 season. "He can wreck a game by himself. 98 is as good a player as there is in the NFL right now."

While the numbers – 121 quarterback pressures, 108 total tackles, 13.5 quarterback sacks, and 12 passes defensed – are strong, they don't adequately measure the way Carter's presence changes the game.

"He disrupts the game, he's smart, and he plays hard," Eagles Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio said of Carter. "There aren't many like him out there and I'm glad he's on our side."

The transition from a National Championship team at the University of Georgia to the NFL was a smooth one for Carter, who played 48 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie in 2023 and recorded 6 quarterback sacks (the most for an Eagles rookie since Derrick Burgess had 6 in 2001), 47 quarterback pressures, and nine quarterback hits, immediately establishing himself as a threat with his quickness and power off the snap of the football.

Carter's All-Pro and Pro Bowl performance in 2024 helped the Eagles lead the league in total defense, and he led the team in quarterback pressures (45), quarterback hits (16), and tackles for loss (12).

In 2025, Carter earned a second Pro Bowl nod, appearing in 11 games with 33 total tackles, 29 pressures, 12 quarterback hits, seven passes defensed, four tackles for loss, and three quarterback sacks. His six batted passes tied with teammate Jordan Davis for second-most among NFL defensive tackles.

Now, he's being rewarded with the Birds picking up his fifth-year option.

OLB Nolan Smith

The 30th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Georgia, outside linebacker Nolan Smith owns the franchise record for the most sacks in a single postseason, amassing four in the Eagles' trip to the Super Bowl LIX Championship in his second season.

In 45 career regular-season games (22 starts), Smith has 83 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 64 QB pressures, 25 QB hits, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. In six postseason games, Smith has added another 22 tackles, 4.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, 20 QB pressures, and seven QB hits.

Beyond the stat sheet, Smith brings an edge to the defense.

"He is just a nasty, violent football player," Head Coach Nick Sirianni said. "I know how physical Nolan is. I've known how physical Nolan is since the day he got here. He's heavy-handed. Big-time hitter. Man, he is so tough."

A two-time National Champion at Georgia, Smith had a historic performance at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and a 41.5-inch vertical jump. Weighing 238 pounds at the Combine, Smith is the heaviest player to run sub 4.4 seconds in the 40 and leap more than 40 inches in the vertical jump.

The combination of pure athleticism and passion for the game is admired by the coaches.

"He gives energy regardless if it's Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Obviously, it's infectious on Sunday," Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay said. "He's in these meetings, he's dialed in. He asks questions. He just wants to help out. I see him up in Coach Wash's (Defensive Ends/Outside Linebackers Coach Jeremiah Washburn) room on Fridays after a lighter practice, getting more feedback, 'What can I get better at?'

"His intangibles and his want to be great is just unbelievable and it shows in how he helps out the young guys. Nolan is one of those guys that you really are fortunate to be around as a coach."