Fletcher Cox Allegedly Almost Left Eagles for Shocking Team
According to Philadelphia Eagle LeSean McCoy, Fletcher Cox nearly left the team for a shocking landing spot.
The Philadelphia Eagles' offseason has been full of retirement speculation with team veterans Brandon Graham, Jason Kelce, and Fletcher Cox all mulling hanging their cleats up. The latter two did decide to call it quits, while Graham is on board for one last dance.
Kelce and Cox enjoyed the rare feat of playing for just one team throughout a storied career, but it turns out that almost wasn't the case for one of them.
“Philly is a special place. I didn’t know how special Philly was until I left”
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 18, 2024
Fletcher Cox thought he was leaving the Eagles and was going to Chargers but he changed his mind, according to Shady McCoy
Really fun podcast @CutonDime25 @DeSeanJackson10 https://t.co/R3XJY0dJKR pic.twitter.com/cabrQOe8gJ
On the TakeOff podcast with John Clark of NBC Sports, former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy discussed what makes Philadelphia so special to players. McCoy admitted he didn't know how good he had it until he was gone, and then revealed Cox once was planning to join the Los Angeles Chargers before ultimately deciding to stick around in Philly.
""He thought he was leaving. He thought he was going to the Chargers ... and he said, 'I changed my mind, man.""
- LeSean McCoy on Fletcher Cox
The idea of Cox wearing anything other than the midnight green is a shock to say the least. He signed four contracts throughout his career, all with the Eagles, including a massive six-year, $103 million extension at the end of his rookie deal.
It's possible Cox's flirtation with the Chargers took place during the 2022 offseason. Los Angeles was reported as one of his potential suitors following rumors at the deadline in 2021, and Philadelphia's release of the defensive tackle allowed him to pursue any franchise in free agency.
#Eagles receiving lots of interest for 6x Pro Bowl DT Fletcher Cox. League sources say #Bills, #Steelers and #Chargers all interested (#Cardinals aren’t due to lack of money).
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 12, 2022
Trading Cox would mean a $40M dead cap charge for Philly, so the return would have to be substantial.
Yet, the two sides were able to sort out their differences, and Cox returned on a one-year deal for 2022, then re-upped for the 2023 campaign before riding into the sunset this offseason.
In other Eagles news:
feed