Philadelphia Eagles’ Man In The Middle

The 2012 draft was very kind to a lot of teams. Like every draft, there were some clunkers like Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden (sorry, Browns), and Justin Blackmon who’ve all but fizzled out of the league.

But when you have  cornerstones like Andrew Luck and Luke Kuechly, it’s safe to say that 2012 had a lot of good talent.

There is one player who’s been quietly dominating yet gone unnoticed.

Fletcher Cox

Philadelphia fans are smiling from ear to ear right now. The defensive tackle has been the staple for a unit that’s had plenty of ups and downs over the years.

Cox is eligible for a contract extension and it would be wise for the Eagles to pay him now before the price tag skyrockets.

One word to describe Cox: Dominant

In November Cox combined for 40 pressures, according to PFF. If you need visual proof then take a look at Cox’s play against the Bills. Overall, the Bills’ offensive line is ranked 9^th by PFF and Richie Incognito was rated as the top-ranked left guard for the entire 2015-2016 season. Someone forgot to tell Fletcher because he manhandled that unit to the tune of 8 solo tackles and 1 sack. In 2015, according to ESPN, Cox had 9.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries.

Cox’s value is in his versatility.  Since entering the league, he’s played in both a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme. He has excelled no matter what front he’s been plugged into.

The only thing going against Fletcher is the Eagles have him for the next two years. He’s entering the last year of his rookie deal and will be slapped with the franchise tag next year if a deal can’t be reached. Needless to say, the Eagles hold all of the leverage.

So why should they hurry?

Cox is about to enter his prime and is on the cusp of being a perennial All-Pro. If the Eagles were smart then they would pay him now instead of waiting two years after Cox has solidified himself as one of the top tackles in the game. Why wait and pay him when his value is at its peak? Over the course of his brief career, Cox has only missed 1 game. Injuries can always happen but it seems like Cox has a Favre-esque pain tolerance.

The Eagles have a great habit of taking care of their own. Lane Johnson, Vinny Curry, Malcolm Jenkins, Mychal Kendricks, Brent Celek, and Zach Ertz have all been paid over the past year. It’s a wise move to continue that trend and pay Cox before someone else does.

As always, thanks for reading.

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