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Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox’s Contract Will Save Team Money Down the Road

By Jeremy Klump

Dec 26, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox (91) reacts after a sack against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field. The Redskins won 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox (91) reacts after a sack against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field. The Redskins won 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Philadelphia Eagles and defensive lineman Fletcher Cox agreed to a huge contract extension. Six years, $103 million with $63 million guaranteed to be exact. Although it seems like a steep price, this contract will save the Eagles money down the road.

The Philadelphia Eagles are once again making headlines this offseason by making another franchise-altering move.

If you look at the Eagles defense, it is pretty evident that defensive lineman Fletcher Cox is their most valuable piece. Cox is only 25 years old and hasn’t even reached his full potential, though, he is already showing flashes of greatness.

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Last season was Cox’s coming-out party. Four years ago, the Eagles traded up to the 12th spot to in the first round to grab the former Mississippi State product. He ended the year with a career-high 9.5 sacks even though he played out of position as a 3-4 defensive end.

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Cox was so dominant last season that he not only made his first Pro Bowl, he cracked the NFL’s Top Players List for 2016, settling in at a very-respectable No. 49.

The dominant season was refreshing for the Eagles, but they knew they needed to pay the man that played his college ball at Mississippi State. Many expected a big deal to be laid on the table, mainly because in February (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com) general manager Howie Roseman was very vocal about it saying, “He is going to get great player money,” and because the Eagles were switching back to the 4-3. The switch meant Cox was going back to his natural position as a defensive tackle and should do even better than he did last season.

The Eagles and Cox got a deal done, and it was a big one. It was the most money ever given to a non-quarterback in NFL history: A six-year, $103 million deal to be exact, with $63-plus million guaranteed.

At the initial thought, the contract looks pretty large. But Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk broke it down:

"1. $26 million signing bonus;2. $1.299 million fully-guaranteed base salary in 2016;3. $6 million option bonus due in 2017, fully guaranteed;4. $3 million fully-guaranteed base salary in 2017;5. $11.5 million base salary for 2018, guaranteed for injury only at signing but fully guaranteed in March 2017;6. $15.6 million base salary for 2019, $15.5 million of which is guaranteed for injury only at signing but $7.75 million becomes fully guaranteed in March 2017 and the other $7.75 million becomes fully guaranteed in March 2018;7. $12.9 million base salary in 2020, plus a $1 million roster bonus due in March;8. $15 million base salary in 2021, plus a $1 million roster bonus due in March;9 $16.1 million base salary in 2022, plus a $1 million roster bonus due in March.In all, it’s a six-year, $102.6 million extension, with a value at signing of $110.379 over seven years. $63.299 million is guaranteed for injury."

Many may cringe at the idea of paying a defensive player that much money, but that is the way the market is starting to play out. For that reason, the huge contract the Eagles gave Cox will actually save them money down the road.

Players like Von Miller, Kawann Short, Aaron Donald, Muhammad Wilkerson and Khalil Mack are all going to get deals based off of the market the Eagles set with Cox. If the Eagles would have waited until next offseason to get a deal done, they would have had to pay Cox based off of what the other players listed would be getting.

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The Eagles’ worst case scenario would have been for Cox to play this season under his fifth-year option on his rookie deal, franchise tag him in 2017 and then try to get a deal done before the 2018 free agency period. If that would have happened, the Eagles would be paying market value in 2018 and not setting it in 2016.

By giving Cox his new deal, and being the ones to set the market, the Eagles saved a ton of money. They also kept their best defensive player happy with a deal that despite appearances could be a bargain down the road.

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