The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East and a home playoff game with a dominant win over the Washington Commanders on Saturday. One that brought up obvious questions for the future of defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
The Georgia product was forced to step up with fellow DT Jalen Carter missing his third straight game with shoulder issues. Davis didn't hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity, getting two quarterback hurries and two tackles for a loss, according to Pro Football Focus. The strong night was highlighted by Davis getting on his horse to run the Washington quarterback out of bounds or meeting the running back at the line to stonewall the rushing play. Both were indicative of the night Davis had and the reasons why the need for an extension is so glaring.
With that said, the Eagles are now facing a clock to figure out how exactly to keep the dynamic duo of Davis and Carter together. The defenders are obviously the glue keeping defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's defense together. So many of Philly's big defensive plays are set up by the dirty work the duo does on the inside.
On Saturday, Davis was a bully on the inside, consistently redirecting the run and hurrying up the quarterback's clock, breaking the interior of the pocket. As great as this was for Philly fans to watch, it was a reminder that there is only one year of team control remaining with Davis playing out his fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
Eagles Must Prioritize a Jordan Davis Extension
Davis is set to hit free agency at the end of the 2026 season, with Carter hitting the market the following year. This turns the pressure up on Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman to find a way to pay both players and still find a way to fill out the rest of the roster. As elite as Roseman has proven to be at navigating the cap, this is doable, but it is clearly going to be an uphill battle.
The longer that the Eagles wait to pay either player, the higher the price is going to grow. This is based on both the increasing market demand at the position and the immense talent of two players who are a sought-after commodity.
Consider the fact that Baltimore Ravens interior lineman Travis Jones recently received a three-year deal worth $40.5 million. On top of that, Baltimore was forced to pay star defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike, who garnered a four-year deal worth $98 million. This helps provide context for where Davis would fit in today's market.
It seems likely Davis would fall in the middle of the two recent extensions, potentially garnering a three-year deal worth $50-60 million. The Georgia product has become an incredibly important piece of Philly's future, with this never being more clear than in Saturday's win, and failing to pay him like one of the best players at his position could give him incentive to leave after 2026.
For Philly, Davis' continued emergence couldn't have come at a better time. Philly's offense and special teams units have been up and down all year, and with Carter missing time, Davis' stability has been more than welcomed. Keeping him in the City of Brotherly Love for as long as possible is a no-brainer, and if GM Roseman doesn't want to break the bank doing so, he must put pen to paper sooner rather than later.