Eagles Film Review: Does Fletcher Cox have anything left?

It’s the NFL offseason, so, it’s time to get into the Eagles’ upcoming free agents before we get into draft season. This time, I will look at Fletcher Cox who has been in the news recently, because it appears he might not be coming back…

Previously: Haason Reddick | D’Andre Swift.

If you haven’t been following the recent news, you may have missed this:

Despite this news, I thought I’d get into what Cox looked like last year to see if he will be missed and how the Eagles could potentially replace him.

Stats & Film

Firstly, Fletcher Cox was a big part of this defense last year. He was not your standard 33-year-old. He played more than any other Eagles’ defensive tackle last year.

I couldn’t quite believe these numbers when Shane tweeted them out. Cox played so much more than both Carter and Williams. If Cox does retire, the Eagles are going to have to sign or draft someone new or significantly increase the other defensive tackles playing time.

I will do this a little differently from other scouting reports, as Cox isn’t a young player. Rather than go through all the strengths and weaknesses, I’ll use some clips to show some examples of what he looked like last year that may link to the numbers above too.

• Cox became a pass-rush specialist last year. The run defense numbers are way down.
• Cox ranked top 20 in pressures which is impressive for an older defensive tackle. He can absolutely rush the quarterback still.

• Get him one-on-one with a center or a weaker guard and he can bullrush that guy back into the quarterback.

• I think he was better in 2023 than he was in 2022.

• He sacked Dak Prescott. That was fun.

• He has not been good in run defense the past couple of years. He has had some rough games.

• He has too many snaps where he has been turned sideways and you can see his number. That’s never good for a defensive tackle.

Overall

I wasn’t expecting Cox to return to the Eagles, to be honest, but I’m a little stunned by the news that he is preparing to retire. He can still play at a pretty decent level and expected him to play for someone this year. Let’s have a look at his contract situation.

Pre-June 1 release is $14.3 mil in dead cap for 2024.

Post-June 1 release is $4.2 mil in dead cap for 2024 and $10.1 mil in 2025.

So, I would have been OK with resigning Cox to a deal around the $6-7m range if Cox was willing to accept. I said the team should not resign him last year, so I’m not pounding the table for him to return, but I think it makes some sense considering the contract situation. He was paid $10m last year, so it would be a pay cut, but I would be stunned if a team paid him $10m again this year so I expect he would have to take a cut regardless. If he was resigned it lets the Eagles essentially only pay another couple million over the Post-June 1 release number this year while lowering that dead cap hit in 2025 when he is gone.

There is a good chance the Eagles are going to lose some big characters in the locker room this year, and I would have liked Fletcher Cox to return if the team is going to lose Jason Kelce too.

I can still remember the day Fletcher Cox was drafted by the Eagles in 2012. The fan base was buzzing on Twitter, as was I. It was one of those picks that seemed like it would be an instant success. And it was! Fletcher Cox was a superstar immediately and it’s been an absolute joy to watch him over the past 12 years.

Fletcher Cox is a 6x Pro Bowler, 4x All-Pro, and a Super Bowl champion. If this is the end, then happy retirement Fletch. What a career.