In a cost-cutting move, the Eagles have, at least for now, parted ways with a mainstay of their defense. The team has released defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
He adds that Cox is being designated as a post-June 1st cut. The reason for the release’s timing is due to the fact that at 4:00 PM EST, $18MM of the compensation he was owed – nearly the entire amount – would have become fully guaranteed. Cutting him in this way creates over $12.8MM in dead money, while opening $2.1MM in cap space.
Garafolo does note, however, that a return to Philadelphia is still possible, something corroborated by ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Both Cox’s representatives and the team are in communication to work out a new contract. Cox originally had one more season on his deal, along with two void years.
Cox, a first rounder in 2012, has spent his entire career with the Eagles. Included in his tenure there is a stretch of six consecutive Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2020. He also earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2018. The 2021 season was essentially on par with his career averages, as he totalled 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
However, he generated trade buzz both around this season’s trade deadline and during the offseason. A swap would’ve been complicated by his sizeable contract. As a free agent now, though, he should be more affordable to interested teams.
wow…
Not the player he used to be, but he still has some pass rushing juice. Even in these two decline years, he’s topped 40 pressures. I’m sure some contender will be happy to find a role for him.
Steelers almost traded for him. Wonder if he lands there
Where did you hear that?
Well known item from last season
I hate you Howie roseman! I’m listening to WIP right now and they are saying this will only save the Eagles $2 million dollars on the cap this year! they also said both parties are trying to work out a deal to go back to Philly, but to me the chances of that are very slim because if they were able to come to agreement he just would have took a pay cut. so are horrible pass rush last year just got a little worse by losing Fletcher even though we signed Hassan Reddick. Yvonne hargrave is now going to be our number one d tackle. I just don’t know what how he’s doing right now
Fletcher is done. All those hits add up. No sense paying him any more than a backup DL at this point.
Sad day for the Eagles!
this sucks, but he wasn’t much the same last year.
Cap # given is wrong
“He adds that Cox is being designated as a post-June 1st cut. The reason for the release’s timing is due to the fact that at 4:00 PM EST, $18MM of the compensation he was owed – nearly the entire amount – would have become fully guaranteed.”
So he’s getting cut after June 1st on March 17th. Gotta love the NFL cap rules.
I originally heard on WIP that it was going to be only 2 million dollars in cap savings this season. but now on WIP they’re saying it will save the Eagles 16 million dollars on the cap this season. so I don’t know what number is right, but it makes a little bit more sense and it’s not that hard to accept if we do save 16 million on the cap this year
Sad
Constant double teams shades the so called decline of fletch. Thanks for the 2 million saved Howie you could have drafted the man some HELP!!
Marcus Smith and Derek Barnett were great 1st rounders that gave Fletch help along the d-line…
He’ll be welcome in Green Bay to play alongside Kenny Clark!
It’s a 40M cap hit. His contract restructuring pretty much bleeped up the cap numbers.
Howie kicks the can like nobodies business until you take the largest Dead Cap Hits in NFL history. Wentz And Fletcher lmao
And the weasel Howie gets his own extension today.