Philadelphia Eagles' star defensive-lineman Fletcher Cox won't be a free-agent for another year, but his eventual free-agency has been a talking point for over a season now.
The former first-round pick was a second-team All-Pro for the second consecutive season in 2015, and will play in his first Pro-Bowl this weekend. Prior to playing in that game, he joined NFL Network's Around the NFL to discuss how he sees his future playing out.
"I wanna be there, that's where I want to be — for the long haul," Cox told Around The NFL on Thursday. "I think the team wants me there, everyone wants me there from the owner all the way down."
Earlier this week, Mark Eckel of NJ Advance Media reported that while Cox wasn't the team's most immediate priority, he was 'going to get his share' and that his new deal would 'likely come before the start of the season'.
Cox's extension, as things currently stand, figures to be in the range of a $100 million contract. Hypothetically, he could have a down season in 2016 and have his price driven down, but given how well he seems to fit in new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's system, that seems unlikely. If anything, another season anywhere close or even better than 2015 could raise Cox's price.
There's little doubt that Cox has earned the contract that he will eventually get, though some could make a case that the $100 million (give or take) could be better allocated position-wise in certain situations. It's hard to make that case for the Eagles, however, because they seemingly lack a franchise quarterback and Cox is still just 25 years-old.
