In addition to all of the draft rumors that have surrounded the Eagles in recent weeks, the uncertain contract status of defensive lineman Fletcher Cox has garnered considerable attention this offseason. From reports that he had turned down a monstrous contract offer to his absence at the team's voluntary mini-camps and offseason programs, Cox's future in Philadelphia appears murkier than how some had considered it as recently as a few months ago. For the second straight offseason, Cox has been pitched as a potential centerpiece of a deal that could help the Eagles move up in the draft to select one of the top quarterbacks in the class. Not only is Cox the best player on the team, but he is seemingly the Eagles' top trade chip if they decided to move the defensive lineman.
Along with a cluster of draft topics presented by the Eagles media, executive vice president of player personnel Howie Roseman and coach Doug Pederson addressed the future of Fletcher Cox. (H/T to Jimmy Kempski of Phillyvoice.com, who was in attendance on Monday, for providing the transcribed quotes via his Twitter)
Eagles don't expect Fletcher Cox to attend their voluntary minicamp beginning tomorrow.
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) April 18, 2016
As far as whether the Eagles feel like they'll be moving Cox in the near future:
Roseman: "We are not trading Fletcher Cox."
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) April 18, 2016
CSN Philadelphia Eagles digital reporter Dave Zangaro with some more context:
Howie Roseman: "Fletcher Cox is going to be on our team. He’s going to be on our team going forward. We are not trading Fletcher Cox."
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroCSN) April 18, 2016
Finally, Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer with some details provided by Roseman on the negotiations going on between Cox's camp and the Eagles:
Roseman said Eagles are "not playing leverage game" with Fletcher Cox. They're very clear that they to re-sign him, keep him for long time.
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) April 18, 2016
Roseman on Cox: "We’re not going to win the deal. We’re not trying to win the deal. There’s no purpose in that" with a player like Cox.
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) April 18, 2016
This is about as much as the Eagles have said on the matter since the end of the 2015 season. While Roseman's stance is a strong one, there is nothing keeping him from wavering from the truth. He would not be the first general manager to do so, and he technically has nothing to gain/lose by telling the truth at this point in the offseason. Nevertheless, moving Cox after that type of statement would cause quite the backlash.
Somers Price is a contributor for Eagledelphia.com and can be followed on Twitter @somersprice
