Will Fletcher Cox Get His Contract Extension before Training Camp?

Is Howard Eskin onto something or is this another example of “careless” reporting?

Fletcher Cox would love to get an extension before he has to begin training camp, Doug Pederson would  love that extension to get done before the Eagles begin training camp, Jim Schwartz would love that extension to get done before the Eagles begin training camp and all of Philadelphia would  love that extension to get done before the Eagles begin training camp.

But will it happen?

Cox has one year left on his rookie deal where he’ll make $7.8 million in base salary before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Philadelphia Eagles, however, can control him for two more years if they elect to franchise tag him.

Eskin reported on NFL Network in mid April that Cox turned down an offer worth $60 million guaranteed, which would’ve been over the $100 million mark. Here’s what he had to say then.

This is ridiculous because Fletcher Cox, a lot of these guys listen too much to their agent. His agent is Todd France. The Eagles, I have been told, have offered him over $60 million guaranteed. Now, the contract would be over $100 million, but Todd France has told Fletcher Cox not to accept that and that’s ridiculous because the Eagles could have his rights for three years. The year the contract left this year, they can franchise him two more years, $60 million guaranteed, and Fletcher Cox is not a guy that spends a lot of money, but Todd France represents other defensive linemen, so, and people believe this in football, that he’s trying to get an unbelievable deal for Fletcher Cox so his other players’ scale of salary would increase and he’d use this to try to get those guys more money.
 
It’s ridiculous that Fletcher Cox has not signed a contract, which guarantees him over $60 million. And a couple years ago, he had some back issues and, I mean, any player can go down, so that’s the problem. The Eagles have offered him a lot of money and his agent, Todd France, said “Nope,” and I think he’s using Fletcher Cox for his other players down the line.

I disagree with Eskin’s point about thinking it’s ridiculous that he wouldn’t accept with the Eagles having the ability to franchise tag him for another two years. While there is the potential that Cox may get hurt, he also has the potential of blowing the roof off the NFL in Schwartz’s scheme. Look what Albert Haynesworth did. Cox is only 25, he hasn’t even hit his prime yet. If Cox has a monster year and reaches double-digit sacks, which he is certainly capable doing, it might actually increase his price tag.

Eskin tweeted the following rumor Tuesday and it’s awfully similar to what he reported back in April.

HC Doug Pederson believes @fcoxx_91 signs by beginning of training camp. hearing deal will be 6 yrs, around 60m guaranteed @FOX29philly

— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) June 7, 2016

Let’s break this down.

Eagles vice president of football operations Howie Roseman likes to backload his deals, but when listening to Cox’s agent Todd France this offseason, it appears that Cox wants stability and his guaranteed money to be in the early portion of his contract.

The following is from France’s interview with WIP a day after Eskin’s report in May.

To say a contract is worth, whatever I’m gonna use $60 million guaranteed, and a certain amount of it he gets today, but the next year he gets some if he’s on the roster is guaranteed. And the next year he gets it guaranteed if he’s on the roster then. And the next year he gets it if he’s on the roster, those are year-to-year guarantees.
 
“Any person that’s got any intelligence to the football business will write and say, ‘That really isn’t X amount guaranteed.’ Because the team can do what? Get rid of the guy and cut him at any point and that quote-unquote guaranteed money the player never really receives.”

Here’s where the big hurdle comes into play. According to OverTheCap.com, the Eagles have only $2.41 million of salary cap space in 2017, the fewest amount of any NFL team. It’s tough for Cox to get that guaranteed money early on with Philadelphia’s limited cap space for next offseason.

The Eagles do, however, have $26.7 million of cap space to work with in 2018 and $99.98 million in 2019. Perhaps Roseman can figure out a way to structure a contract with most of the guaranteed money in that two-year window, because there’s not a lot of wiggle room in 2017.

Due to the $2.41 million figure, I’m not sure how the Eagles can get this deal done before the start of Training Camp. Maybe it gets finished by the end of the preseason when players get cut and free up just a little bit more of extra space, but how much can you really free up at this point?

The reason why this pact might not get accomplished until next offseason is Sam Bradford. Once the Eagles most likely part with him following the 2016 campaign, that should open the space to get the Cox deal and this seemingly never-ending contract dispute over with. Bradford has a cap hit of $22.5 million and if Philly can find a trade partner, that would open up $17 million. If the Eagles cut Bradford following the year, that would free up $13 million.

Here’s what we do know: Roseman has remained adamant that he wants Cox in Eagles green for a very long time. He doesn’t want him to leave the building and that won’t happen.

The deal will get done, it’s just a matter of when.