Tag: Fletcher Cox

Eagles Javon Hargrave among the top-4 most productive pass rushing DT’s in the NFL last season

Philadelphia Eagles Javon Hargrave was No. 4 in pass-rush productivity among defensive tackles in the NFL in 2019

After being gashed for big play after big play last season, Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia went out and added a few lockdown defenders and a game wrecker along the defensive front.

The results could end up being a defensive transformation that allows the Birds to return to the Super Bowl on the back of a stingy and athletic defense. The one glaring improvement will come along the defensive line where Jim Schwartz will have his pick of disruptors to chase the quarterback.

The best of the group could be free-agent signee, Javon Hargrave, who came over from the Pittsburgh Steelers and presents an absolute matchup nightmare in the middle for the Eagles.

Hargrave is a pass rush dynamo and according to Thomas Peterson via Pro Football Focus, Hargrave was the number four most productive pass-rushing defensive tackle last season.

Last season in the Steelers 3-4 defense, Hargrave managed 373 pass-rush snaps to go along with 43 hurries and 49 total pressures.

Hargrave’s ability to dominate in the middle will surely free up more one one one opportunities for Derek Barnett and Fletcher Cox, who could have his most dominant season as a pro.

With Hargrave in the middle, Malik Jackson should also benefit from more time spent at defensive end, although he also has been one of the top-pass rushers at the defensive tackle position.

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Eagles land at No. 7 in a ranking of the eleven-deepest rosters in the NFL

Eagles are No. 7 in a ranking of the 11 deepest rosters in the NFL

The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2020 offseason with the goal of getting younger, faster, and deeper at various positions.

It remains to be seen how fast the young players will be incorporated into the mix but the team is definitely stacked at several positions. In a ranking from Touchdown Wire that lists the 11 deepest rosters in the NFL, Philadelphia landed at No. 7 on the list.

Of course, the Eagles have Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson coming back from injuries, but with those two players on the shelf Wentz’s primary target during last year’s stretch drive was Greg Ward Jr., a converted quarterback playing WR. But via the draft and a trade, the Eagles added Jalen Reagor, John Hightower, Quez Watkins, and Marquise Goodwin.

On top of the wide receiver depth, the Birds have two of the top tight ends in the NFL along with a top-10 offensive line, even without Brandon Brooks.

On defense, the line was bolstered by the addition of Javon Hargrave at defensive tackle and the return of the versatile Malik Jackson.

In the secondary, Darius Slay joins a revamped secondary that also welcomes Nickell Robey-Coleman Will Parks and rookie K’Von Wallace.

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NFL announces the 2021 Pro Bowl will be played in Las Vegas

2021 NFL Pro Bowl to be played in Las Vegas

The NFL is proceeding with the 2020 NFL season and as the Raiders make the move to Las Vegas, the league is rewarding fans by moving the 2021 Pro Bowl to Vegas as well.

The move signals the end of the NFL’s deal with Orlando while moving the league’s all-star showcase into a new state of the art venue.

Last season the Eagles had five players selected to 2020 Pro Bowl and six if you include Darius Slay who made it with the Lions.

The 2021 Pro Bowl will take place in Las Vegas at the Raiders’ new home of Allegiant Stadium on Jan. 31.

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Malik Jackson could provide more pass rush for the Eagles by moving to defensive end?

Eagles DT Malik Jackson could play primarily at defensive end during 2020 season

The Philadelphia Eagles avoided adding a pass rusher during free agency and didn’t address the position until they selected Casey Toohill in the later rounds.

With the Eagles needing more pressure off of the edge, Jim Schwartz and company could turn to a guy already on the roster, looking to redeem himself.

Malik Jackson signed a big-money deal to play next to Fletcher Cox at defensive tackle but saw his 2019 season end during the season opener against the Redskins.

During free agency, the Eagles added Javon Hargrave to the roster and that left some wondering where that leaves Jackson? With several unproven defensive ends on the roster, the Eagles could turn to Jackson when they need more pressure off the edge according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Jackson has 32.5 career sacks, came into the NFL as a defensive end, and could turn this opportunity into his future.

Brandon Graham is 32 and Derek Barnett likely has one more season to prove he deserved to be a first-round pick.

With Jim Schwartz preferring to rush the passer and utilize his defensive line based on rotation, don’t be shocked if Jackson spends time at both positions, with Jackson getting the call on third downs.

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Eagles land in the top-5 of list ranking the NFL’s top units in the trenches

Eagles are No. 2 in a ranking of NFL’s top offensive and defensive lines

The NFL is a game predicated on offense and great quarterback play but the one key to every successful team is the talent in the trenches.

The great NFL teams secure a franchise quarterback and then they embark on the process of building the organization from the inside out, fortifying both sides of the line. The Eagles perennially have one of the NFL’s top offensive line units and they have two of the NFL’s top defensive linemen on the roster as well.

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks recently broke down the top five teams in the league based on their talent in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Not surprisingly, the Eagles landed at No. 2 on the list.

The Eagles could soar to the top of the NFC behind a talented defensive line that features a diverse collection of playmakers at the point of attack. Fletcher Cox is the marquee name, but his blue-collar teammates (Javon Hargrave, Brandon Graham, and Derek Barnett) also have the capacity to take over games utilizing a committee approach. When the Eagles get that quartet going in the coming season, particularly on obvious passing downs, opposing quarterbacks are going to take a beating in the pocket. Offensively, the Eagles must cope with the loss of Jason Peters, but it is hard to complain with three four-star blockers on the front line. Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks, and Jason Kelce are not only rock-solid technicians, but they are physical blockers with nasty dispositions. If Andre Dillard can quickly settle in as a first-time starter, the Eagles’ front will pummel opponents with its collective size, strength and athleticism.

The return of a healthy Malik Jackson will only make the group that much more lethal. If Genard Avery, Josh Sweat, and one of the young defensive tackles can take the next step, this group will quickly rise to No. 1 on the list.

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Derek Barnett working out with ex-Eagles defensive line coach Jim Washburn

Derek Barnett working out with ex-Eagles defensive line coach Jim Washburn

Derek Barnett is finally healthy for the first time in his career and now the former Tennessee Volunteers star is looking to put together the type of season that could earn him a huge free agent payout.

In preparation for the 2020 NFL season, Barnett has been working out with a familiar name for Eagles fans, training with the legendary Jim Washburn. Washburn spent time with the Eagles during his coaching career and was sought out by Barnett to help the talented defensive end take the next step as a player.

As Washburn told Mike Kaye of NJ.com, Barnett is working to validate the Eagles using a first-round pick on him.

“He wants to prove that he was worth that pick,” Washburn told NJ Advance Media in a phone interview on Thursday. “I believe he will. He’s just got to stay healthy.”

“He’s one of the finest young people that I’ve ever been around in my whole life, ever,” Washburn said. “He never makes an excuse. I’d say ‘I hurt your feelings, didn’t I?’ and he’d say ‘Wash, you’re not going to hurt my feelings. Say anything to me because you’re not going to hurt my feelings.’”

Barnett had his fifth-year option picked up by the Eagles after a 2019 season that saw him appear in 14 games and record 6.5 sacks, 30 total tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, 22 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles.

He’ll need to improve on those numbers for the Eagles if he wants to lead the youth resurgence and land that big contract.

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Eagles DT Fletcher Cox could be in line for a contract extension with big 2020 season

Philadelphia Eagles could give Fletcher Cox a new contract to ease salary cap woes

The Philadelphia Eagles are facing some looming salary cap decisions and keeping their best defensive player around could free up some cash.

The Eagles are among the NFL teams that would be most affected by a reduced 2021 salary cap due to fans not being able to attend home games during the pandemic.

Per Over The Cap, the Eagles are set to be $50.6 million over the salary cap in 2021, with the next closest team, the New Orleans Saints, only projected to be over the cap by $9.5 million.

Next season (2021), the Eagles could have 12+ or more players making $10+ million or more as well.

Fletcher Cox is one of those 12 players and according to Zach Berman of The Athletic, a huge 2020 season from the star defensive tackle could allow the Eagles to reduce his cap number while giving the All-Pro more years and security on his deal.

Cox’s situation is trickier. He turns 30 in December and had a down year based on his standards. But if he returns to form and the Eagles expect him to be on the roster for a few more seasons, they can extend his deal and adjust his $22.48 million cap number. So those are the two obvious places for reworked deals.

Cox would certainly take the security of more money spread out over banking on the Eagles or another team ponying up $22 million per season in this financial climate. He’s still the best defensive tackle in the NFL behind Aaron Donald and still looks to be dominant as he heads into his 30s.

The Eagles signed Fletcher Cox to a 6 year, $102.6 million contract extension in 2016.  According to Over The Cap, the Eagles converted $14.67 million of his 2019 salary to an option bonus and 2020 is the final year he’s due guaranteed money.

If the league and TV partners bring in less revenue due to games either being canceled or no fans in attendance, the salary cap could drop significantly to the tune of “$30 to $80 million” less per team.

The Eagles are currently scheduled to pay out $263.3 million in 2021 and if they were forced to reduce that space to about $210 million, it would likely require the restructuring of several big-named contracts.

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Philadelphia Eagles have 3 players make PFF’s list of top 50 NFL players heading into 2020

Philadelphia Eagles have 3 players make PFF’s list of top 50 NFL players heading into 2020

The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the most talented teams in the NFL and two of the most talented players sit on the defensive side of the ball.

Pro Football Focus recently revealed their top-50 players heading into the 2020 NFL season and 3 Philadelphia Eagles landed on the list with Fletcher Cox, Brandon Brooks, and Brandon Graham making the cut.

15. DI Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles. Aaron Donald exists in a world of his own, but there are a number of other interior defensive linemen who are vying for the title of the best in the league not named Donald. Fletcher Cox is the best power pass-rusher in the NFL. His ability to overwhelm physically dominant offensive linemen is unique, and it has led him to some truly spectacular seasons. Over the past three seasons, Cox has 202 total pressures — the second-most in the league among interior pass rushers — and the sixth most in the league among all players. He is a wrecking machine inside for the Eagles. […]

34. G Brandon Brooks, Philadelphia Eagles. Just a season ago — in his first year back from a torn Achilles — Brandon Brooks won PFF’s Bruce Matthews Award, which is given to the best single offensive lineman in football. It was a career year for a player who has always been quietly one of the best offensive linemen in the league. He has never had a season that graded lower than average, and he has now surrendered just four sacks in four seasons. Last year, he had eight games in which he surrendered no pressure at all, and if anything, he was a better run-blocker than he was a pass-protector. […]

49. EDGE Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles. Brandon Graham has been one of the best edge rushers of the entire decade, but at 32, we may have seen the last of his best years. Last season, his overall PFF grade slipped below 85.0 for the first time since 2015, and he posted the lowest pass-rushing grade of his career since he became a full-time starter. Sixty-seven total pressures is still an impressive number, but the decisive wins weren’t there as often as they had been in previous seasons. Even a declining Brandon Graham is still a problem for an offense, however, and that’s how he makes this list.

The Eagles definitely have a notable snub, but with only 50 players named to the list, it’s hard to argue where Lane Johnson should have landed and Darius Slay as well.

LA Rams star Aaron Donald finished at No. 1 ahead of Patrick Mahomes.

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Eagles D-Line looks ready for huge season after gathering for workouts with Fletcher Cox

the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line looks to be in great shape after workouts with Fletcher Cox at Shady Trell Ranch in Texas.

The Philadelphia Eagles hopes of returning to the playoffs four a fourth straight season could hinge on the defense and most importantly, the pass defense.

One way of helping your cornerbacks is to sustain a disruptive and pressure-filled pass rush, one reason for the Eagles spending big money on Javon Hargrave in free agency.

The Birds will return Graham at defensive end, while Derek Barnett will man the other edge in what could be the most important season of his career.

The Eagles defensive line got a head start on the in-person part of the team’s virtual training camp when everyone except Hargrave made the trip to Texas for some bonding and workouts with Fletcher Cox on his ‘Shady Trell Ranch’, a premier hunting destination in Jacksboro, Texas.

Brandon Graham initially broke the news of the Eagles defensive line all gathering for some group activities with Cox.

Here’s a photo of the group courtesy of Cox’s friend and personal trainer, Deon Hodges.

The trip is similar and reminiscent of the gatherings quarterback Carson Wentz organizes in the offseason.

A few summers ago, Wentz took some teammates up to North Dakota to work out and bond together, while last summer they met in Houston.

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Who are the top 10 interior defensive linemen in the NFL going into 2020?

Here are the top 10 interior defensive linemen in the NFL right now.

With Luke Kuechly gone, the best defensive player on the Panthers roster is now DT Kawann Short, who has been one of the league’s most underrated defensive linemen for a long time. Last season, he sat out 14 games due to a shoulder injury. If Carolina’s defense is going to be anything but a total disaster, they need him healthy in 2020.

Is Short still among the top players at his position, though? Let’s find out. Here are the top 10 interior defensive linemen in the NFL right now.

10. Jurrell Casey

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

It’s rare for defensive linemen to play as well as Casey has for as long. He came into the NFL as a third-round pick by the Titans in 2011. Since then, Casey has played 139 regular season games, totaling 51 sacks and 115 quarterback hits. A model of consistency, Casey hasn’t had less than five sacks in a season since 2012. Casey was recently traded to Denver.

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