Tag: Fletcher Cox

Fletcher Cox leading Eagles defensive linemen through workouts at his home

Eagles’ defensive line working out together at Fletcher Cox’s house

With Malcolm Jenkins returning to New Orleans via free agency, there was an assumption that the Eagles would face a leadership void.

That simply hasn’t been the case with several Eagles players increase their leadership and none more important than Fletcher Cox. The Eagles All-Pro has gathered some of his defensive linemates to his Houston area home for some pre-training camp work.

Eagles edge-rusher Brandon Graham was on Instagram Live on Tuesday night with Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson when it was revealed that the defensive line took a trip to Cox’s house for the week.

Transcripts via NBC Sports Philadelphia:

GRAHAM: We out here with Fletch … The D-Line came out.

We got out here, we’re gonna be with Wash, we’re gonna be with Wash working out. Most of the D-Line came out. Hargreaves couldn’t come.

JACKSON: I’d seen you with Slay, how was that?

GRAHAM: Oh, that was cool. You know, we’d been working out since last year, when we found out they was trying to trade for him. So we always just stayed together after that.

[…]

We start working out tomorrow.

Javon Hargrave is the most important defensive tackle not making the trip but it’s a good sign for a team that should have an advantage in preparation thanks to no changeover in the coaching staff.

Graham had previously worked out with Darius Slay while in Michigan and it appears that this Eagles team will be tight-knit and prepared for work in a few weeks.

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Watch: Eagles DE Brandon Graham works out with new teammate Darius Slay

Darius Slay and Brandon Graham working out together

The Philadelphia Eagles have been reduced to a virtual offseason program due to the Covid-19 pandemic but that doesn’t mean the work isn’t being put in.

Doug Pederson spoke on Tuesday about all his guys making the virtual offseason sessions and recently, Brandon Graham and new Eagles cornerback Darius Slay, were spotted getting some work in together.

According to John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia, this isn’t the first time Slay and Graham have worked out together and the Eagles defensive end has previously recruited the former Lions star to Philadelphia during those workouts.

Slay will be called upon to firmly establish a shutdown cornerback for the Eagles and will give Jim Schwartz some options with his new versatile defense.

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Philadelphia Eagles among NFL teams that would be most affected by reduced salary cap in 2021

Eagles named a loser of 2020 offseason because of salary cap issues

The Philadelphia Eagles are banking on the 2020 NFL season going off without a hitch and being uber-successful because the financial implications are severe for Howie Roseman.

The Eagles currently lead the NFL in contracts that average $10 million or more and any looming salary cap issues could set the franchise back.

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.

In 2021, that number will jump to 12 or more players making $10+ million or more as well.

The 2021 NFL salary cap could be impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak.

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 while likely moving on from DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, Marquise Goodwin and a few more.

Having to reduce to cap to $175 million could be catastrophic for an Eagles team will have to deal with Carson Wentz’s extension and huge salaries for players like Fletcher Cox, Darius Slay, Brandon Brooks, Lane Johnson, and Javon Hargrave.

The Eagles would be joined in salary cap hell by the Saints, Falcons, and Steelers and explained by Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, the NFL will get a financial bump from a 17-game season in 2021, but any loss in cap space could be disastrous for the Eagles.

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Ranking the Philadelphia Eagles positional groups after the NFL Draft and free agency

Ranking the Eagles positional groups after the NFL Draft and free agency

The Philadelphia Eagles addressed several pressing needs during free agency and the NFL draft, with cornerback possibly being the remaining glaring need.

With the virtual offseason progressing and training camp just in the distance, here’s a post-draft ranking of the Eagles’ 11 position groups, from best to worst.

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(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

1. Defensive Tackle

Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Malik Jackson, Bruce Hector, Albert Huggins, Hassan Ridgeway, Anthony Rush

Analysis: As was the case heading into the 2019 season, Cox is still the best defensive tackle in the NFL behind Aaron Donald. Last season Malik Jackson was supposed to be the best defensive tackle he’s ever played with, but it never materialized. Cox will get another shot with Jackson and the game-wrecker known as Javon Hargrave. If Hassan Ridgeway can take the next step, this will be one of the top units in all of football.

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Eagles Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox land on the PFF All-Decade Top 101 list

Philadelphia Eagles Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox named to the PFF All-Decade Top 101 list

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The Philadelphia Eagles offensive line was featured early on during the PFF All-Decade release and now the defensive line gets the shine.

After announcing the All-Decade team, Pro Football Focus ranked them accordingly by quarters, with Lane Johnson landing in the first release, at No. 79 on the list.

Now edge rusher Brandon Graham and All-Pro defensive tackle, Fletcher Cox has landed on the list as well.

42. EDGE BRANDON GRAHAM
Perennially underrated because he doesn’t generate the same sack totals as some of the other pass-rushers in football, Brandon Graham has nevertheless pressured the quarterback like few other players over the past decade. He owns two of the top three pass-rush win rates of the decade, and only two edge rushers have a higher pressure rate over the past 10 years. Graham has always been the poster child for pressure mattering in and of itself, even if it comes with a lower rate of sacks than other players, and the Philadelphia Eagles have been a far better team for embracing that dynamic.

45. DI FLETCHER COX
It took him a few seasons to discover his best play, but since 2015, he has been the best interior defensive lineman in football not named Aaron Donald. Cox is the best power pass-rusher in football, with strength even dominant offensive linemen just can’t match up with. Since that 2015 season, he is second only to Donald in total pressures as a pass-rusher. His 2018 season is one of the best single-seasons we have ever seen from an interior rusher — it was just barely noticed because Donald had an even better one.

A rugged defender out of Michigan, Graham has survived two coaching changes, to become one of the unanimous leaders in the Eagles locker room. Graham plays the run exceptionally well, provides pressure off the Edge, and made the defining play in the Eagles Super Bowl win over New England.

Graham has amassed 51 career sacks in 153 games.

Cox dealt with constant double teams and a nagging injury but still was a monster down the stretch for the Eagles in 2019. During his career, Cox has started 119 of 125 games played, racking up 367 tackles, 48 sacks, 14 passes defended and 11 forced fumbles.

Cox has been named an All-Pro four times in his career and he’s a five-time Pro Bowler as well.

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Eagles RT Lane Johnson lands on the PFF All-Decade Top 101 list

Lane Johnson lands on the PFF All-Decade Top 101 list

Lane Johnson is a one of the top right tackles in all of football and a bonafide future Hall of Famer if he keeps up his high level of play.

Earlier this offseason, Johnson joined free agent left tackle, Jason Peters, on the Pro Football Focus All-Decade team for the 2010s and he was also named to the top 101 players of 2019 as well.

After announcing the All-Decade team, Pro Football Focus ranked them accordingly by quarters, with Lane Johnson landing in the first release, at No. 79 on the list.

79. T LANE JOHNSON
Lane Johnson’s pass protection has been impressive throughout his career — there are games where he has shut down Von Miller — but where he really distances himself from his peers is when it comes to run-blocking. In this area, Johnson was by far the best right tackle of the decade, and only recently retired Joe Staley boasts a better grade among all tackles. Johnson has also had to navigate injuries and suspension, missing at least one game in all but two of his NFL seasons. When he is on the field, though, Johnson has been a dominant force for the Eagles.

Even in 12 injury-riddled games, Johnson was dominant, posting the best run-blocking grade (92.6) of any tackle in football this season, while allowing only one sack across 454 pass-blocking snaps.

Numbers 50-74 will be released on Tuesday.

Eagles DT Javon Hargrave named a player who’ll have a breakout 2020 NFL season

Javon Hargrave expected to have a breakout season with Eagles in 2020

The Philadelphia Eagles quietly added the most valuable player of the free agency period, stealing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave away from the Pittsburg Steelers.

After a solid 2019 season in Pittsburgh, Hargraved cashed out, signing a 3-year, $39 million deal with the Eagles.

Hargrave played nose tackle in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 3-4 defense, but he’ll move to defensive tackle, where he’ll be lined up next to the All-Pro, Fletcher Cox.

playing next to Cox will free Hargrave up for one-on-one battles, which should allow the talented defensive tackle to have a breakout season in 2020 according to Bleacher Report.

Hargrave was named one of four players who’ll have huge seasons on a new team.

A former South Carolina State star, Hargrave just turned 27 years old and was a third-round pick of Steelers in 2016.

Hargrave racked up 14.5 sacks and 168 total tackles through four seasons with the Steelers and the 6’2″, 305-pound game wrecker will bring that intensity to the Eagles.

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Eagles CB Darius Slay calls Fletcher Cox the best “all-around” DT in the NFL

Darius Slay calls Fletcher Cox the best all-around DT in the NFL

Darius Slay and Fletcher Cox were recruited to Mississippi State together, but after the cornerback was forced to attend a junior college after high school, they only officially played one season together as teammates.

That SEC bond is still strong and Cox played a huge role in getting Slay from Detroit to the Philadelphia Eagles via trade.

Cox has already started to indoctrinate Slay on the Eagles culture and recently during an Instagram live session, Slay called Cox the best “all-around” defensive tackle in football.

Slay called Cox one of the best run-stopping and one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the NFL.

A 2018 All-Pro, Cox is still a game wrecker and despite battling injuries last season, he still landed his fifth-straight Pro Bowl appearances.

Slay called Aaron Donald the best pass-rushing defensive tackle in the NFL, while he labeled his former Lions teammate, Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison the best-run stopper in the NFL.

Fletcher Cox indoctrinated Darius Slay on the Eagles culture and rabid fan base

Fletcher Cox indoctrinated Darius Slay on the Eagles culture and rabid fan base

Darius Slay and Fletcher Cox are teammates for the first time with the Philadelphia Eagles, but their relationship goes all the way back to the SEC and Mississippi State.

During his introductory conference call with the media, Slay revealed that he had a conversation with Fletcher Cox the night before he was traded to Philadelphia, and his former teammate provided some insight into the teams culture and rabid fan base per NBC Sports.

“He called me and he just said, ‘Man, I heard we’re trying to get you,’ and he just started explaining to me what to expect coming to Philly (from) the fans and from the owners. He said the owners are straightforward and honest and (the players) treat each other like brothers, they go out there and play ball for each other. And he said the fans will go crazy, he said they’re going to let you know when you’re playing good and let you know when you’re playing bad and I said I look forward to that. I want to know when I’m playing bad myself.”

When discussing the culture, Slay harped on the Eagles consistently going to the playoffs — something he didn’t do in Detroit.

NFL Draft: Ranking the Eagles best 1st-round picks since 2000

Ranking the Philadelphia Eagles best 1st-round picks since 2000

The 2020 NFL is less than two weeks away and the Eagles will have the opportunity to alter the course of their franchise with the 21st pick.

The Eagles will have the option of several talented wideouts, they could target a defender or trade back altogether.

The Eagles history in the first round features some all-time greats and several busts that have left stains on the franchise.

Here’s an Eagles Wire ranking of the best first-round picks for the franchise since 2000.

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Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

1. Fletcher Cox, DT, 12th pick in 2012 draft

Cox dealt with constant double teams and a nagging injury but still was a monster down the stretch for the Eagles in 2019. During his career, Cox has started 119 of 125 games played, racking up 367 tackles, 48 sacks, 14 passes defended and 11 forced fumbles.

Cox has been named an All-Pro four times in his career and he’s a five-time Pro Bowler as well.

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