Fletcher Cox named as fourth-best defensive lineman in NFL
All Andy Benoit and Gary Gramling did was confirm what Eagles fans already know.
Just about every NFL fan or any fan of the Philadelphia Eagles knows what MMQB is. If you’re a reader or a subscriber, you’ve probably come across the work of Andy Benoit and Gary Gramling from time to time. They’re both also hosts of The MMQB: 10 Things podcast. Recently, another name familiar to Eagles fans, Fletcher Cox, came up in the discussion.
Their most recent podcast was dedicated to naming the top ten defensive linemen in the NFL. Cox came in fourth. Eagles fans have plenty of cause to be excited about the 2016 season, and Cox just provides one more. In addition to be ranked as the fourth-best lineman overall, he also finished as the second-ranked defensive tackle. That placed him as second to only to the Los Angeles Rams‘ Aaron Donald. It’s safe to say Cox is in some pretty good company.
The 2016 season:
More from Inside the Iggles
- Eagles LB Nakobe Dean jokingly makes his pitch for an assistant GM role
- Eagles captains earn high praise on roster blending veteran leadership, youth
- How former Eagles star Cre’Von LeBlanc helped Renegades upstage Cowboys
- Eagles 2023 schedule: Every WR duo Darius Slay, James Bradberry will battle
- Imagining better names for Jason Kelce’s Good Guy Award
The $63 million that was guaranteed was part of a six-year, $103 million extension that Cox signed on June 13th of 2016. He started all 16 games a season ago, registering 43 total tackles and 6.5 sacks. Truly, there wasn’t much he could do to convince some Eagles fans that he was deserving of such a high price tag. That is anything short of breaking the leagues sack record. Still, the results of his season were solid, outside of a few costly penalties at inopportune times.
A look ahead:
Cox was invited to yet another NFL Pro Bowl. Now, with the addition of Timmy Jernigan via free agency, fans are excited about this tandem working together for years to come. Who knows. A year from now, maybe we’re discussing both of the Eagles starting defensive tackles being on this list or one similar to it. There isn’t anyone who cheers for this team that will be disappointed if that’s what happens.