Jalen Carter Trade Scenarios: What It Would Cost Vikings, Raiders, and 49ers
Jalen Carter has been a popular name in the trade rumor mill in the NFL. It’s understandable. He’s due for a big rookie extension, and the Eagles are in a situation where paying him might be more costly to them than beneficial. That’s not to say they don’t want to retain him long-term, but if they can get a good return for him, it’s worth exploring, right? The San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings all have reason to look at Carter in a potential blockbuster deal. Here’s what it would cost each team to land the elite interior defensive lineman.
Minnesota Vikings Trade Scenario
Minnesota Vikings Receive DT Jalen Carter
Philadelphia Eagles Receive 2027 Second-round pick 2027 Fifth-round pick
The Vikings don’t really have any player they could give up in a deal that wouldn’t gash this roster, so they’ll have to resort to draft capital, which could be a hefty price to pay. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are at odds a bit, but he doesn’t have a potential out in his contract until 2028, according to Spotrac. That means a move for J.J. McCarthy just wouldn’t make too much sense right now. The Vikings don’t really have receiver depth either, so they’re stuck with giving up draft capital to land Carter.
That said, he’s a beast and would instantly make this defensive line better. They went the young route, releasing Javon Hargrave and then trading Jonathan Allen to the Cincinnati Bengals. They drafted Domonique Orange and Caleb Banks as their future, but adding Carter would ensure they stay in championship contention. When you want stars on your team, it’s costly, but the Vikings can’t ignore how big of an addition Carter would be.
Las Vegas Raiders Trade Scenario
Las Vegas Raiders Receive DT Jalen Carter 2027 Fourth-round pick 2028 Second-round pick
Philadelphia Eagles Receive EDGE Maxx Crosby
This is one of the more intriguing pitches on this list for a couple of reasons. The Las Vegas Raiders could benefit from an elite defensive lineman that’s young enough to build around. At the same time, it also solves their Maxx Crosby problem. Not that the Raiders are necessarily eager to trade Crosby, but they put him on the market this offseason, got a deal and it flopped. They haven’t been aggressive in trading him, but they could have the perfect opportunity to capitalize on his value while getting a solid return in Carter.
The Raiders were aggressive this offseason in building this roster, drafting Fernando Mendoza and plugging quite a few holes on both sides of the ball. The Raiders could benefit from adding Carter while also getting draft capital in return to continue turning this roster into a playoff-contending one.
San Francisco 49ers Trade Scenario
San Francisco 49ers Receive DT Jalen Carter
Philadelphia Eagles Receive EDGE Mykel Williams 2027 Fourth-round pick
This was a tough one to put together. The ultimate question is how much do the San Francisco 49ers value Mykel Williams? He played just nine games as a rookie after a torn ACL ended his rookie campaign early. He recorded just 11 tackles and one sack. The problem here with the 49ers is I’m not sure if Alfred Collins has enough value to make it worth it. While adding Carter would give them a lot of depth on their defensive line, they’d be down a pass rusher. They could get away with it with Nick Bosa coming back from injury as well, but is it worth it to them? That’s the question they’re going to have to ask. But Philadelphia needs pass rush help badly, which is why Williams or Bosa would have to be part of the deal. With Carter and Williams being similar in age, that’s why I went that route.
The 49ers can’t be afraid to make big moves when you look at the rest of this division. They have to play the defending Super Bowl champions twice and deal with Myles Garrett and the Los Angeles Rams twice per year. They can’t get left behind by not bolstering their team in any way they can. Adding Carter is just that, but it also means they’re sacrificing a major piece of their future.
Final Thoughts
Jalen Carter would be a massive addition for any of these teams, but the cost is high. The Vikings would need to part with significant draft capital, the Raiders could use Maxx Crosby as the centerpiece, and the 49ers would likely have to include Mykel Williams. Whether any of these deals happen remains to be seen, but Carter’s name will continue to generate trade rumors as long as the Eagles consider moving him.