The NFL’s deadline for teams to decide whether or not to pick up the 2016 fifth-year contract options for their 2012 draft picks is May 3. Many teams, however, have already made their decisions, one being the Philadelphia Eagles, who announced on Monday they would be picking up the fifth-year option of defensive end Fletcher Cox.
#Eagles exercise fifth-year option on DE Fletcher Cox. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/U1Z1UTrcHx
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 27, 2015
In three years with the Eagles, Cox has totaled 141 combined tackles, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, four fumbles recovered and five passes defensed. In 2014, Cox was Pro Football Focus’ (subscription required) fifth-ranked 3-4 defensive end, outperforming the likes of Haloti Ngata and Vince Wilfork. He’s started every game for the Eagles since Week 8 of his rookie year.
Cox’s name has come up in association with a three-way trade that would result in Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota being drafted by the Eagles. With his option picked up, it seems less likely that the Eagles would try to move him—but given the offseason the team has had, it’s clear that no player or position is considered sacred by head coach Chip Kelly.
In fact, Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice warns that Cox getting his fifth-year option does not prevent him from being traded, saying “the Eagles exercising Cox’s fifth-year option has virtually no bearing on whether or not he will be traded,” citing that the $7.8 million option is not guaranteed, and that he can still be paid that option by another team, should he be part of a trade.
Still, Philadelphia’s willingness to pick up Cox’s option seems to indicate that he has on-field value to the team. But whether or not that means he plays for them in 2015 and 2016 is something only Kelly really knows for sure.
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