Mailata and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed on the extension that will take him through to the end of the 2028 season with new earnings of $33m a season.

It will be a significant boost to his current $24m-a-season deal that still has two years to run and dwarfs the $13m three-year deal Aussie punter Cameron Johnston recently signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The former South Sydney NRL junior is now the fourth-highest paid left tackle in the NFL, cementing his standing in the competition despite the 27-year-old not yet making the Pro Bowl.

It also caps a stunning ride for Mailata, who didn’t play in a single game in his first two NFL seasons on the Eagles roster, having been taken at pick 233 in the 2018 draft, before starting 10 games in 2020. He then beat out first-round pick Andre Dillard in 2021 to be the Eagles’ starting left tackle.

In the past three seasons, Mailata has started 47 games and was part of the Philadelphia outfit that lost the 2023 Super Bowl.

“I think I have so much to improve on in my game,” Mailata said late in the 2023 campaign.

“Every day I’m working with Stout (offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland) and he is pointing out parts of what I’m doing that can be better. I take everything he says seriously.

“He’s the one who made me what I am today. Whatever he says, I’m going to do.

“Everything is day to day with me. I love being part of this team and the fans are a huge part of what we do. Nothing is going to change that mindset.”