NFL Trade Machine: Fletcher Cox Up For Grabs?

Dec 1, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox (91) brings Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) down after a pass in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles have become known over the past two years for making sure all of their players understand that nobody is safe on that roster.  Ask LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson among others.  Head coach Chip Kelly clearly doesn’t fear moving out quality players if he feels it will suit his needs for building the roster he wants.

The latest to encounter that NFL trade line of embarkation is defensive end Fletcher Cox.  A look back shows that 2014 proved to be his best season yet as a pro.  He finished all 16 games without incident, collecting four sacks, 61 tackles and a forced fumble.  Pro Football Focus gave him a robust +30.5 overall rating and indicated he was particularly lethal at stopping the run.

Yet that wasn’t enough for the Eagles, who seemed to have him on the trade block earlier in the off-season, most likely as part of an attempt to move up in the draft for quarterback Marcus Mariota.  It didn’t work out that way, but some wonder if he’ll still be moved at some point in the future.  Philadelphia did pick up his 5th year option on his contract for $7.799 million, but that doesn’t change anything.  Cox, to his credit, isn’t biting on the rumors.

"“It would have been a distraction if I was to let that bother me or put me one step behind. I’m not trying to take one step backwards, I want to take one step forward every day. My job here is to play football and that’s the most important thing to me.”"

One thing is clear.  Another season like the one he had last year and Fletcher Cox will be in high demand.  At age 24 he hasn’t really even entered his prime yet.  That should increase the NFL trade value to peak levels.  Could Chip Kelly ignore that juicy opportunity?