So much for the Fletcher Cox trading rumors.
Instead, the Philadelphia Eagles are releasing their six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle with the designation after June 1, according to the NFL Network.
Fletcher Cox was released #eagles with an appointment after June 1, the sources say. At 4p, $18 million would be fully guaranteed. Cox became a free agent, but the team and his representatives continue to discuss a possible return.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 17, 2022
The note about Cox’s potential comeback (on a new deal) is interesting and worth reading. But as a free agent, Cox can now sign with any NFL team. Thus, his return is not necessarily guaranteed.
We wrote the following about Cox’s world view earlier this month:
CONSIDERATION: Entering the 2021 season arguments were made in favor of the Eagles trading Cox. Despite this, Howie Roseman doubled down on the veteran guard, restructuring his contract rather unwisely to free up space under the ceiling in the short term. Cox got off to a slow start last year, openly saying he wasn’t exactly thrilled with his role in protecting Jonathan Gannon. There was talk of the Eagles “aggressively buying” Cox ahead of last year’s NFL trade deadline but the restructuring basically left Philadelphia stuck in his contract. Cox had some good moments in 2021, but he was hardly a vintage version of himself. He ultimately posted the second lowest total of his career and missed the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2014.
FORECAST: The mechanics of the Eagles’ transition from Cox this offseason aren’t exactly straightforward. I mean, it took a 25 minute and 34 second video from Over The Cap to explain how the Eagles traded or cut him, which could affect the Philadelphia cap situation. The Eagles have ways to move him, but it’s assumed here that the Birds end up holding Cox because they won’t get a tempting trade offer that justifies a large number of dead caps. In theory, Cox should still have some gas in the tank ahead of his 32-year season. But as we often point out here at BGN, his body is heavily worn. Consider that Cox took 2,037 more shots than Brandon Graham, who is two years older than Cox and started playing in the NFL two seasons before him. Cox is hardly a slacker at this stage, but he’s just not the powerhouse the Eagles are paying him to play for. He’s only hit 4.5 sacks in his last 22 games despite being the eighth highest-paid defenseman in the NFL. Not ideal.
As you can see, the direct release was not a scenario that we or anyone else really envisioned.
Assuming Cox doesn’t return, that’s a pretty big deal. Obviously, he was a very good and influential player for most of his career with the Eagles. He was the best player on the team that won the Super Bowl in 2017. It will be strange to see him leave after being such a mainstay since the Eagles selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Cox’s departure will certainly highlight the need to add inside line talent. The Eagles could well enter the 2022 season with Javon Hargrave and Milton Williams in the starting lineup. The first ends the Pro Bowl season, and the second showed some promising potential like a newbie. However, what is the depth behind these guys? There are no incredibly inspiring options here…unless you value Marlon Tuipulota, Marvin Wilson and/or Renelle Wren too highly.
Returning Cox to a more manageable contract would be nice, but it doesn’t make up for some of the damage that has already been done to the Eagles’ salary cap.
UPDATE: Regarding the wage cap ramifications mentioned, here is the interpretation from Over the cap.
For the time being, Cox’s 2022 salary cap will remain the same as if he were on the list. I believe that number is $14,946,820. On June 2, the only salary cap the Eagles would have would be Cox’s pro-rated portion of his salary. I’m not 100% sure what it will be. It will either be $12,826,820 or $9,641,409. The difference lies in the proportion of the option to the option not exercised. I can never pinpoint the NFL’s attitude to this. In many cases, the loan is usually granted the following year, but this may be more unique from June 1st. In any case, if it is a higher number, they will receive a maximum loan of $3,185,411 in 2023.
For 2023, dead money should be $15,359,292. The reason this is much less than what is shown on the OTC is because the option was not exercised and we are in a different league year than the year the player was eliminated. So all that buff-related speedup should now be gone.