NFL teams didn't wait for the 2026 season to make their biggest statements. This offseason, franchises opened their wallets for young stars, established defensive leaders and offensive playmakers, creating a new wave of record-setting contracts.

At the top of the list is Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who agreed to a four-year, $152 million extension that can reach $160 million and includes $106 million guaranteed. The deal makes Carter the highest-paid interior defender in NFL history at $38 million per year.

Not far behind is Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., whose three-year, $150 million extension includes $134 million guaranteed. The contract made Anderson the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history when it was signed and showed just how much teams are willing to spend on elite pass rushers.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London also joined the nine-figure club. His four-year, $141 million extension includes $100 million guaranteed and can reach $150 million. The deal gives London an average annual value of $35.25 million and makes him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in football.

Then there is Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Tennessee handed Simmons a three-year, $105.8 million extension with $100 million guaranteed. At roughly $35.3 million per year, the deal briefly established a new high-water mark for defensive tackles before Carter raised the bar again.

These contracts aren't simply about players getting richer. They tell us where the NFL believes its competitive advantage is heading.

The Biggest Deals of the 2026 Offseason

1. Jalen Carter — Philadelphia Eagles: $152 Million

The Eagles made one of the boldest commitments of the offseason by locking up Jalen Carter through the 2031 season.

Carter's four-year extension is worth $152 million, with a potential value of $160 million and $106 million guaranteed. His $38 million average annual value puts him at the top of the interior defensive market.

For Philadelphia, the decision is about more than statistics. Carter is a disruptive force in the middle of the defense, capable of collapsing pockets and creating opportunities for the players around him.

The Eagles had already extended Jordan Davis earlier in the offseason for three years and $78 million. Now Philadelphia has committed enormous money to both of its young defensive tackles.

That tells you something about the Eagles' philosophy: dominate the line of scrimmage and build around young defensive talent.

2. Will Anderson Jr. — Houston Texans: $150 Million

Will Anderson Jr. signed a three-year, $150 million extension with $134 million guaranteed. At the time of the agreement, it made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

The timing makes sense.

Anderson is coming off a 2025 season in which he recorded a career-best 12 sacks and earned first-team All-Pro honors. His production has climbed every year since entering the league, making Houston comfortable betting heavily on his future.

The Texans are essentially saying that elite pass rushers are worth quarterback-level money.

And considering how difficult it is to find a dominant young edge defender, that gamble could pay off.

3. Drake London — Atlanta Falcons: $141 Million

Drake London's four-year, $141 million extension is one of the biggest wide receiver contracts of the offseason.

The deal includes $100 million guaranteed and can reach $150 million. London receives an average of $35.25 million per year, placing him among the NFL's highest-paid receivers.

What's interesting is that Atlanta made this commitment despite continuing questions around its quarterback situation.

London has dealt with multiple starting quarterbacks during his young career, yet he has remained one of Atlanta's most reliable offensive weapons. His 2024 season, when he posted 100 catches, 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns, showed the kind of ceiling the Falcons believe they are paying for.

The message is simple: find your young offensive cornerstone and pay him before the market gets even more expensive.

4. Jeffery Simmons — Tennessee Titans: $105.8 Million

Jeffery Simmons' three-year, $105.8 million extension is another example of how valuable disruptive defensive tackles have become.

The Titans guaranteed $100 million, while the $35.3 million annual average briefly made Simmons the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.

Simmons is coming off a career-best 11-sack season and his first All-Pro selection. Tennessee clearly sees him as a foundation piece as the franchise tries to rebuild its defense under head coach Robert Saleh.

There is also an interesting tactical angle. Saleh's defense is expected to ask Simmons to attack the line of scrimmage aggressively, giving the veteran defensive tackle more opportunities to make disruptive plays.

5. Nick Herbig — Pittsburgh Steelers: $100 Million

Nick Herbig's four-year, $100 million extension is one of the more fascinating deals of the offseason.

Unlike some of the established stars on this list, Herbig was entering the final year of his rookie contract. After producing a career-high 7.5 sacks, 30 tackles and three forced fumbles in 2025, Pittsburgh decided not to wait.

The Steelers guaranteed $42 million and are essentially betting that Herbig is entering the best part of his career.

It is also a sign of how valuable pass rush depth has become. Pittsburgh already has major money committed to T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Adding Herbig gives the Steelers a young rusher who can remain important as the roster evolves.

6. Jonathan Greenard — Philadelphia Eagles: $100 Million

Philadelphia continued its aggressive defensive spending by agreeing to a four-year, $100 million extension with edge rusher Jonathan Greenard after acquiring him from Minnesota.

The deal includes $50 million fully guaranteed.

Greenard's contract is another example of the Eagles investing heavily in pass rushers and defensive linemen.

Philadelphia isn't trying to build a defense around one superstar. Instead, the team is creating a deep group of expensive, talented players capable of controlling games from the line of scrimmage.

7. Jordan Davis — Philadelphia Eagles: $78 Million

Before Jalen Carter's enormous extension, Jordan Davis had already received a major commitment from Philadelphia.

Davis signed a three-year, $78 million extension with $65 million guaranteed. The contract pays him $26 million per year and placed him near the very top of the interior defensive line market.

Davis' deal now looks even more significant because Carter followed it with an even larger contract.

Together, the two deals show Philadelphia's willingness to spend heavily on young defensive tackles who can anchor the middle of the defense.

8. Derwin James Jr. — Los Angeles Chargers: $75.6 Million

The Los Angeles Chargers also made a major commitment to one of their defensive leaders.

Derwin James agreed to a three-year, $75.6 million extension with $57.1 million guaranteed. His $25.2 million annual average made him the highest-paid safety in the NFL at the time.

James brings something that doesn't always show up on a box score. He can move around the defense, cover, blitz, tackle and serve as a leader.

For a Chargers team trying to build a consistent contender, keeping a versatile defensive player like James makes plenty of sense.

What These Contracts Really Mean

The biggest takeaway from the 2026 offseason is that the NFL's salary hierarchy continues to change.

Quarterbacks still dominate the top of the overall salary charts, but elite non-quarterbacks are getting closer to quarterback money. NFL.com notes that the 2026 salary cap has crossed the $300 million mark, giving teams more room to make these kinds of commitments.

The defensive line has been the biggest winner.

Carter and Simmons both pushed the defensive tackle market beyond $35 million per year, while Anderson established an enormous benchmark for edge rushers. The Eagles, meanwhile, are investing heavily in multiple defensive linemen rather than putting all their resources into one player.

Wide receivers are also benefiting from the rising salary cap and growing offensive importance. London's $141 million deal is another reminder that teams are willing to pay premium prices for young receivers who can become the centerpiece of an offense.

But there is another side to these contracts.

Big guarantees can create future salary-cap problems if a player underperforms, gets injured or simply stops producing at an elite level. NFL contracts are complicated, and the headline number doesn't always tell the whole story.

For teams, the challenge is finding the right balance between rewarding today's stars and keeping enough flexibility to build the rest of the roster.

The Bigger NFL Trend

One thing feels increasingly clear: waiting too long to extend a young star can be expensive.

Anderson, London, Carter and Herbig all received enormous contracts while still being viewed as players with room to improve. Teams are increasingly willing to pay early rather than risk watching a player's price explode after another Pro Bowl or All-Pro season.

That could have a major impact on upcoming negotiations.

Young stars around the league will look at these contracts and see new benchmarks. Agents will use them as leverage. General managers will have to decide whether to pay early or gamble on future performance.

And that's why these deals matter beyond the players signing them.

The 2026 offseason isn't just producing bigger contracts. It is changing the definition of what an elite NFL player is worth.

As training camps continue and the regular season approaches, the real question is no longer whether these players were paid a lot.

It's whether their teams can turn those massive investments into wins.

Because in the NFL, a $150 million contract looks great in March.

By January, everyone wants to know if it helped get them closer to the Super Bowl.