The San Francisco 49ers locked up arguably their most important free agent on Saturday by inking kicker Eddy Pineiro to an extension that is as team-friendly as it gets after the season he just had.
Is Jalen Carter worth the 49ers’ 1st-round pick?
According to Easton Butler of 247 Sports, the Philadelphia Eagles have received calls from five teams about Jalen Carter. Those teams include the 49ers, Packers, Bears, Seahawks, and Raiders. Butler added that several other teams have called to “kick the tires” on the situation.
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Earlier on Sunday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler covered Carter in his free agency column:
With defensive tackle Jordan Davis now extended, Philly also must weigh whether to extend Jalen Carter, who is eligible for a new deal. I’m told Philly has received trade calls on Carter.
Carter is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The deadline to pick up Carter’s fifth-year option is May 1. He is undoubtedly a premier talent. He was the best player coming into the NFL, but a pre-draft civil lawsuit caused him to “fall” to No. 9 overall.
Carter was involved in a fatal crash in Athens, Georgia, in January 2023, where he was racing a recruiting staffer at the University of Georgia. Two people died in the crash. Carter pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless driving and racing.
Carter was suspended last season after being caught spitting in Dak Prescott’s face. If the Eagles aren’t willing to extend Carter, why should another team? The answer is talent.
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Despite questions about his effort, Carter always finds a way to show up during games. Teams wouldn’t focus their game plan on stopping Carter as much as they do if he weren’t a difference-maker.
The worry would be that once he receives even more money, potentially franchise-player caliber money, his effort would wane even more. You would need to dig deep into Carter’s background, but his talent is so next-level that it’s probably still worth being wrong about.
Carter generated five pressures across 158 double teams last season. In 2023, he had 12 pressures, and in 2024, 15 pressures when doubled. Instead of seeing it as a step back, I’d focus on how incredible he was in 2023 and 2024.
It’s also worth noting that Carter played 75 percent of the snaps in nine of the 11 games he played in, and another six games in which he played at least 88 percent. He is a superstar who is worth a first-round pick in any draft, and yes, that includes when you factor in giving him $120 million.
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Wide receiver options galore for the 49ers in free agency and on the trade market
Fowler mentioned the Eagles are “asking for a steep price” for wide receiver A.J. Brown. The price is believed to include a first and second-round pick for Brown. That is not the only wideout who could be available:
Also, Brown isn’t the only receiver potentially available. Baltimore’s Rashod Bateman, Los Angeles’ Quentin Johnston, and Green Bay’s Dontayvion Wicks have come up in my talks. Teams have interest in Green Bay’s Jayden Reed, but I don’t sense the Packers would trade him at this point.
Bateman is a fascinating option. In 2024, Bateman was tied for the third-most downfield touchdown receptions in the NFL with eight. Last year, Bateman only had 224 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The former 1st-rounder from the 2021 NFL Draft enters the second year of his three-year extension with the Ravens. Bateman’s cap number in 2026 is only $6 million.
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This will also be the final year Bateman has any guarantees remaining in his contract, making him an affordable option for the next two seasons. It shouldn’t take anything more than a fourth-round pick, with Baltimore having a new coaching staff.
On MockDraftable, one of Dontayvion Wicks’ comparisons is Brandon Aiyuk. Wicks might be as good, if not a better fit than Romeo Doubs for Kyle Shanahan’s offense, with his athleticism and ability after the catch.
Speaking of Doubs, Fowler once again tied him to the 49ers. The other teams mentioned with Doubs included the Patriots, Commanders, and Titans.