DT Rumors: Eagles, Pats, Panthers, Colts

The Eagles shelled out significant long-term commitments to defensive tackles Jalen Carter (four years, $152MM) and Jordan Davis (three years, $78MM) during the offseason, which could make retaining impending free agent D-tackle Moro Ojomo a challenge. Combining those factors with the Eagles’ 2-7 start, Ojomo looks like a logical trade chip as Tuesday’s deadline draws closer. The Eagles have rebuffed interest in Ojomo, though, and some around the NFL wonder if they could extend him and eventually trade Carter, Albert Breer of SI.com writes. An acquiring team would likely have to pay a steep price to snag Carter, who is under control 2031. Philadelphia exercised Carter’s fifth-year option last spring, meaning the two-time Pro Bowler will earn a $27.1MM salary next season. Carter’s mega extension won’t kick in until 2028.

Here’s more on the DT market…

• The Patriots’ Christian Barmore first came up as a trade candidate in late October, and though the Pats want to beef up their pass rush, insider Jordan Schultz says that “[Barmore] could be moved.” Barmore ranks second on the Patriots in sacks (4.5) and boasts Pro Football Focus’ 10th-highest pass-rushing grade among 125 qualifying DTs, but his playing time has fallen off dramatically compared to 2025. After starting 16 of 17 games and registering a 65.26% defensive snap share last year, he is down to two starts in eight games and a 43.16% snap share this season. Both Milton Williams and Cory Durden have outsnapped Barmore, who has two-plus seasons left on his four-year, $84MM deal.
• Teams have called Carolina about Derrick Brown, but the Panthers insist they aren’t trading him, according to Schultz. The Panthers fell to a dismal 3-5 after losing to the Broncos in Week 9, yet the reigning NFC South champions are the leaders of a weak division for the second straight year. With a playoff berth looking like a realistic possibility, it’s unsurprising the Panthers want to keep Brown, a one-time Pro Bowler who is under control through 2028. He inked a four-year, $96MM extension with the Panthers in 2024.
• As a soon-to-be free agent playing for a 2-7 team, the Colts’ Grover Stewart is in a similar situation to Ojomo. Stewart’s “available,” per Breer, but James Palmer of Amazon reports Indianapolis is “reluctant” to move him. If the Colts end up trading the 33-year-old, they would save $12.25MM at the cost of $2MM in dead money. Stewart is earning an $11.74MM salary.