Defensive tackle/end Fletcher Cox has played his way into an elite cat-Bird seat.
94-WIP’s Howard Eskin reported that Cox was offered over $60 million in guaranteed money on a contract that, back in February, was reportedly worth $100 million. As Eskin noted, that deal would have put Cox in the neighborhood of the top three or four contracts at his position. Eagles GM Howie Roseman made signing Cox a clear priority back in the beginning stages of free agency. From ESPN’s Phil Sheridan in early March: “Fletcher is in a separate boat,” Roseman said. “We want to sign Fletcher Cox. We don’t have any intention of his ever leaving the building.”
Welp, apparently Cox and his agent have turned down the offer.
Per Eskin, the driving factor behind Cox’s decision to turn down the massive contract is likely his agent, Todd France. “From what I understand, he’s letting his agent dictate what he does,” Eskin said. Eskin went on to say he still expects a deal to get done between the two sides. “In the end, the agent works for the player; the player doesn’t work for the agent,” Eskin said. “Especially at that position, you can get hurt in the first game.”
“Cox is working on the final season of his rookie contract, so these negotiations have really been the first opportunity the D-Lineman has had to truly monetize his talents in the NFL. Sheridan expects Cox to thrive in new D-coordinator Jim Schwartz’s 4-3 system. However, it is worth noting that Cox is among the players absent from Philadelphia’s voluntary camp.”—per ESPN.
Here is our resident genius anlayst ~BROZ‘ take on the matter:
“The Fletcher Cox sitch surely is part rumor, but most assuredly part troof too. He’s gonna try and break the bank…and well he should. He is a Top 5 defensive player in the NFL.
“The Cox sitch….illustrates how important it is to try and go the Franchise QB route to greatness….rather than the Great Defense route. To be a great defense……we would need to pay Cox a huge sum of money….and then hope that an elite corner, elite edge rusher, and then another elite guy somewhere (LB, safety, etc) emerges. Then you need 4 or 5 more defenders to be pretty good. No slouches. All 3 or 4 elite guys will want to get mega-bucks….and the 4 or 5 good guys, will want more money than their worfff (see Byron Maxwell).
“It’s extremely hard to put together an elite defense……and nigh impossible to keep it together more than a season or 2.
“If you want sustained excellence………you need an elite QB. That’s ONE guy you have to break the bank on. Then, you fill in around him the best you can. If you want a 10,12 15 year run where you have a shot to win multiple Superbowls…….you better get a Franchise QB. The elite Defense wiff no QB usually is a 1-and-done sitch (see Tampa, Ravens 2000 defense, etc). ”
Fair enough…but I’d prefer Cox in my Swain over any QB experiment….
Meanwhile, I was asked to re-post all the “Visitors” so far with the Eagles— you know, the top collegiate players who yearn for a chance to earn a living in the NFL and get an invite to work out for the Eagles. Re-posted for informational purposes only (as some folks are still formulating their MACH 10+2 Draft ballots), here are the”Visitors” as documented by Tommy Lawlor at Iggles Blitz:
PLAYERS WITH NOVACARE VISITS:
QB Dak Prescott, Mississippit State
QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State
QB Jared Goff, Cal
QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis
RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
RB Paul Perkins, UCLA
WR Mike Thomas, Southern Miss
WR Kolby Listenbee, TCU
WR DeMarcus Robinson, Florida
WR Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia
ILB Steven Daniels, Boston College
LB Nick Kwiatkoski, West Va
LB Deion Jones, LSU
CB Rashard Robinson, LSU
CB Cyrus Jones, Alabama
CB Darryl Worley, West Va
PRIVATE WORKOUTS / VISITS:
QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State
QB Jared Goff, Cal
QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis
QB Kevin Hogan, Stanford
QB Dalyn Williams, Dartmouth (met with him at Pro Day)
QB Christian Hackenberg, Penn State (at his Pro Day, also private workout)
RB Jordan Howard, Indiana (Duce Staley ran his Pro Day workout)
RB Jacobi Green, Richmond (met with him at his Pro Day per Tony Pauline)
WR Ricardo Louis, Auburn (Greg Lewis worked him out at Pro Day)
WR Duke Williams, Auburn (Greg Lewis worked him out at Pro Day)
WR Andy Jones, Jacksonville (met w/ him for hour at Pro Day)
WR Reginald Diggs, Richmond (met with him at his Pro Day per Tony Pauline)
WR Chris King, Duquesne (met with him at Pro Day)
WR Leontee Carroo, Rutgers (met with him at Combine, also private workout)
WR Brandon Zylstra, Concordia (met with him at his Pro Day)
TE Nick Vannett, Ohio State (met with him per Tony Pauline)
TE Jerrell Adams, South Carolina (met with him at his Pro Day)
TE Devin Cajuste, Stanford (private workout)
TE Hakeem Valles, Monmouth (at local Pro Day)
OL Joe Dahl, Washington State (private workout)
OL Josh Garnett, Stanford (workout per Tony Pauline)
OL Kyle Murphy, Stanford (workout per Tony Pauline)
OL Graham Glasgow, Michigan (private workout)
OL Connor McGovern, Missouri (private workout)
OL Evan Boehm, Missouri (private workout)
OL Darrell Greene, SDSU (private workout)
DE Dean Lowry, Northwestern (DL coach at his Pro Day per Gil Brandt)
DE Ron Thompson, Syracuse (worked out at his Pro Day)
DE Matt Judon, Grand Valley State (worked out by DL coach at his Pro Day)
DE Yannick Ngakoue, Maryland (at his Pro Day, also visit)
DT Quinton Jefferson, Maryland (workout per Tony Pauline)
DT Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State (DL coach at his Pro Day per Tony Pauline)
DT Greg Milhouse, Campbell (met with him at his Pro Day per Tony Pauline)
DT David Onyemota, Manitoba (worked out by Eagles per Tony Pauline)
DT Maliek Collins, Nebraska (DL coach at his Pro Day per Gil Brandt)
DT Vincent Valentine, Nebraska (DL coach at his Pro Day per Gil Brandt)
LB Nick Kwiatkoski, West Va (workout at Pro Day per Tony Pauline)
LB Terrell Williams, Youngstown State (Eagles showing interest per Tony Pauline)
LB Quentin Gause, Rutgers (met with him per Tony Pauline)
LB Joe Schobert, Wisconsin (LB coach at his Pro Day per Gil Brandt)
ILB Steven Daniels, Boston College (workout per Tony Pauline)
ILB Blake Martinez, Stanford (private workout)
S Darian Thompson, Boise State (workout per Tony Pauline)
S Justin Simmons, Boston College (private workout)
CB Kalan Reed, Southern Miss (met with him on campus)
Well-l-ll… that should help clarify things for your MACH 10 +2 entry— NOT!!! DOMMED!! BURN !!!
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