Fletcher Cox toyed with a few organizations as a free agency last offseason before electing to return to the Philadelphia Eagles, the only team he has ever known. The New York Jets were one of the teams that used the full-court press, while Chris Jones, a defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, attempted to recruit Cox. This year, everything will be different.
Defensive tackle Jordan Davis hinted that Cox would be leaving town two days after the season concluded in Tampa. Cox spoke on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward’s podcast, ‘Not Just Football,’ and appeared to reiterate his decision to leave. Heyward asked Cox which NFL team he’d like to play for. “You,” Cox answered. Heyward was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year on Thursday night and is regarded as one of the best performers at his position. Lane Johnson, the Eagles’ nominee, was an offensive tackle.
“It’s all love,” Cox informed Heyward. “Just the regard you have for the game, and the respect I have for it. The way you play the game and the way I play the game, we could definitely play together. It would have been nice. “We could make some things happen.” Isaac Seumalo, a former Eagles offensive lineman, signed with the Steelers during last year’s free agency season. The Eagles drafted Cox in the first round of 2012. He was voted one of the NFL’s finest players of the decade in 2010, and he has been a consistent contributor for the Eagles. He is 33 years old, but will turn 34 during the season in December.
The Eagles, on the other hand, are transitioning to a younger defensive line after choosing Davis in the first round two years ago and Jalen Carter the following year. Adding Carter altered Cox’s landscape, and he appeared to be aware of it. Cox was effective last year, recording five sacks, 33 tackles, and 17 quarterback hits. He stated during the team’s clean-out day two days after the season’s finish that he had not considered his future, despite the fact that his locker had been wiped out. “I haven’t thought about anything,” he told me. “You see, I cleaned out my locker. I had a lot of stuff in there. I needed it cleaned, so I had enough time to complete the task.”
Last year, he signed a one-year agreement worth $10 million. According to overthecap.com, the compensation hasn’t altered much, but the Eagles may not be ready to pay that much, and Cox may be able to negotiate a two-year contract elsewhere. If Cox’s career ends, the Eagles’ Core Four will cease to exist. That may already be the case, depending on whether Jason Kelce retires and the Eagles do not re-sign Brandon Graham. “It’s always special,” Cox said of the Core, who have spent their entire careers together. “Having spent over a decade with those three boys, they will always hold a particular place in my heart. That’s difficult to do. The best thing I can
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 12 years here, it’s that the head coach values draft picks. If you do well, they will take care of you. That is what you would anticipate. We’ve won, lost, and gone through ups and downs with those guys. Those are the moments you treasure and will never forget. “I always appreciate those guys.”
