There’s been a lot of talk about the Eagles signing defensive tackle Fletcher Cox to a contract extension this offseason, but the two sides haven’t agreed on a new deal ahead of the start of the team’s voluntary minicamp this week.
In what may be a related development, Cox wasn’t at last week’s workouts and Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Monday that the team does not expect Cox to be part of minicamp when it kicks off on Tuesday. Pederson said, via Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer, that he’s OK with Cox not taking part in the workouts, pointing out that no one is required to be at any team activities until the mandatory June minicamp.
Pederson added that he doesn’t know whether the contract is the reason why Cox hasn’t been in Philadelphia. The 2012 first-round pick is set to make $7.8 million under the team’s fifth-year option for 2016, which is guaranteed against injury only. That option and the right to use the franchise tag in 2017 means that Cox probably isn’t going anywhere whether they can agree to an extension or not.
That said, an extension wouldn’t come as a surprise given the Eagles’ public statements about their interest in one and their moves to lock up tackle Lane Johnson, tight end Zach Ertz, tight end Brent Celek and defensive end Vinny Curry this offseason.