NFL Free Agency Primer: Fletcher Cox

The regular season has come to a close, and most teams have already begun the complicated process of preparing for the 2023 season. In the coming months, we'll be covering the impending free agents most capable of shifting the balance of power in the NFL.

The Player: Fletcher Cox

Few players in the NFL have as complete a resume as Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. A six-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion, Cox has put together a near Hall-of-Fame-worthy career and could put himself over the top with another big season or two. If 2022 is any indication, he still has plenty in the tank: he tallied 7.0 sacks and 14 tackles for loss for the NFC Conference champions.

The Fit:

Cox is 32 years old and has spent his entire career as a crucial cog and leader for the Eagles defense. He should be in no hurry to give up his franchise legend status, but if the Eagles' incredibly deep defensive line no longer has a place for him (four players with 10+sacks in 2022), he'd be a good pick-up for a team that needs veteran leadership but can get by without an every-down player.

The Cost:

Cox played on a one-year, $14 million deal with the Eagles in 2022, and nothing about his production last season suggests he should settle for any less. That being said, he's a year older, and the Eagles have some considerable contract negotiations coming this offseason. If the Eagles only offer a team-friendly deal, it's possible he could be pried away with a multi-year pact. A deal similar to the two-year, $28 million contract J.J. Watt signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 would likely be difficult to pass up.

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