Fletcher Cox has been the subject of criticism over the past two years and although his game has slipped a bit, the Eagles’ star is still among the top game wreckers on the planet.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently released his ranking of the NFL’s top interior defensive linemen based on polling from some of the league’s top executives.
Cox dropped down in the rankings this summer, but he’s still in the top five.
5. Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: 12
Age: 30 | Last year’s ranking: 3Cox has made six Pro Bowls in nine seasons, and is one of the defining defensive tackles of the last decade, a blur of speed and power inside or on the edge.
In 2020, Cox was still productive, with 6.5 sacks and a 74.1 Pro Football Focus rating. But his nine QB hits was his lowest total since 2014.
“A little bit on the descent, but you know where he is at all times,” said an NFC scout. “He’s still tops on the scouting report when you prepare for Philly’s defense. There was a time not too long ago when he was No. 2 [among interior D-linemen] and you wouldn’t look back.”
Added an NFC exec: “He’s still a problem to me. He was on a bad defense.”
Cox has rested this offseason, and despite questions about how he’ll fare after turning 30, the Eagles star looks to be in the best shape of his career. Add in an improved Javon Hargrave and the addition of Milton Williams, and Cox could return to his dominant ways.
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