Carter Extension Reshapes the Eagles' Defensive Line
The Philadelphia Eagles signed defensive tackle Jalen Carter to a four-year extension worth up to $152 million, completed on July 29, with an average annual value of $38 million that makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history. Carter, 25, is entering his fourth season and limited to 11 games with three sacks last year because of shoulder injuries, making the deal a calculated bet on a player whose contract runs through 2031 but is structured to start paying out in 2028. General manager Howie Roseman called the timing "unique," noting that the Eagles wanted the deal done before camp after Tennessee gave Jeffery Simmons a four-year pact worth up to $140 million. Carter's deal is the latest in a pattern of aggressive early extensions Philadelphia has used to control costs before players reach free agency.
The biggest immediate casualty of that spending is likely teammate Moro Ojomo, who becomes eligible for free agency after this season. With Jordan Davis already signed in March to a three-year extension worth up to $78 million, the Eagles now have roughly $230 million committed to two defensive tackles, a figure that makes it difficult to fit another estimated $60 million-plus for Ojomo, who produced six sacks last season. Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean also become extension-eligible after this season, and edge rushers Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt are looming future costs. After the 2024 Super Bowl season, Philadelphia already let defensive tackle Milton Williams leave for a four-year, up-to-$104 million contract in New England.
Hill Confirms He Will Not Return to New Orleans
Taysom Hill will not return to the New Orleans Saints for a 10th season, he announced in a social media post on July 29 (Wednesday night). Hill, the versatile "Swiss Army knife" who lined up at quarterback, running back, tight end, wide receiver and on special teams during nine seasons in New Orleans, thanked the franchise and its fans but said returning "is not in the cards." He stopped short of declaring retirement, leaving open the possibility of playing elsewhere in 2026. Hill, who turns 36 next month, is less than two years removed from a serious knee injury sustained in December 2024 and has not commented publicly since the end of the 2025 season until this week. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, who had spoken with Hill earlier in the week, praised him as "a great teammate, excellent leader and mentor" and said the organization looks forward to properly celebrating his career.
If Hill does not play again, he will retire as one of only five players in NFL history to score at least 10 touchdowns each via rushing, receiving and passing, and the only player in the Super Bowl era with at least 1,000 yards in all three categories, per ESPN. He reached double-digit touchdowns in each category in 2023 when he caught his 10th career touchdown pass, becoming the first player since Hall of Famer Frank Gifford (1957) to do so.
Vikings Add Adams as a Multi-Positional Option
Veteran safety Jamal Adams signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Minnesota Vikings on July 28 and spoke to reporters at the start of training camp. Adams, a first-round pick by the Jets in 2017 and a three-time All-Pro, said he was drawn to Minnesota by general manager Nolan Teasley (a former Seattle colleague) and defensive coordinator Brian Flores, adding "the sky's the limit" about what his career can look like in his 10th NFL season if he can get fully healthy. Adams cited the lingering effects of the quad tendon tear he suffered in Week 1 of 2022, explaining that confidence and practice reps only recently returned after years of recovery work with the Titans, Lions, and Raiders (where he moved to linebacker in 2025). On the field, Adams was characteristically open about his role: "I can play linebacker, safety, corner, nose tackle, defensive end, kicker … You want me to walk the dog, I walk the dog."
Bowles Downplays Vea's Trade Request as Camp Opens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles addressed defensive tackle Vita Vea's trade request on the opening day of training camp on July 28, saying the situation will "take care of itself." Vea, 31, requested a trade earlier in the week while seeking an extension on his current $17.75 million deal; he is not practicing while the matter is unresolved, with the team citing a back tweak during conditioning tests. Bowles confirmed the Bucs have "not even discussed" fielding calls for Vea and noted the team is "getting ready to play the season with him" while he remains engaged in meetings. Vea is not the only Buccaneer seeking a new contract, as quarterback Baker Mayfield is also playing this season on his current deal without an extension. Reports differ on Vea's market trajectory; the SI account indicates he is targeting compensation in the range of recent extensions for Jeffrey Simmons and Jalen Carter, while Bowles cast the dispute as a routine annual distraction.
Other Camp Notes: Packers, Cowboys
The Green Bay Packers opened training camp with two notable injury clearances on Wednesday, July 29, activating guard Aaron Banks and defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse after both passed physicals, ending brief stays on the physically unable to perform list. Banks, in the second year of a four-year, $77 million deal, is one of only two returning starters on a reshuffled offensive line, with Jordan Morgan taking over at left tackle, Sean Rhyan at center, and Zach Tom at right tackle. Stackhouse, an undrafted rookie last season, rejoins a defensive front now coordinated by Jonathan Gannon and featuring free-agent signee Javon Hargrave alongside Devonte Wyatt, Warren Brinson, and rookie Chris McClellan. The Dallas Cowboys held their first camp practice in Oxnard on July 29, with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker drawing praise from cornerback DaRon Bland for his communication, while 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton continued to battle for the left tackle job and revealed that Dak Prescott has nicknamed the offense "GOTI" — Greatest Offense There Is.
49ers Criticized Over Delayed Disclosure of Shanahan Accident
NBC Sports' ProFootballTalk published an editorial on July 29 arguing that the San Francisco 49ers should have promptly disclosed that head coach Kyle Shanahan had been involved in a car accident, rather than holding the information for 11 days. The column criticized the organization for creating "the impression that the 49ers possibly had something to hide" and questioned the relevance of privacy claims given Shanahan's status as a public figure and the volume of NFL betting ahead of the season. It framed the matter as part of a broader pattern of 2026 offseason P.R. missteps by NFL teams, citing the Patriots' handling of the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini situation as the other notable example. The article does not detail Shanahan's current medical status beyond noting the team's position that his injuries were non-life-threatening.
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