PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles finished up their last of six spring practices on Wednesday, and there was Fletcher Cox smiling with his teammates, excited about returning for an 11th season with the Eagles.
None of that was guaranteed.
Cox certainly didn’t appear like he was coming back last October, when Cox openly criticized the defensive scheme of Jonathan Gannon before confirming reports that the Eagles – with his approval – looked into trading him before the deadline last Oct. 30.
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And definitely not in March, when the Eagles released Cox, one of their best defensive tackles in history, making him a free agent able to sign with any other team.
Not only did Cox return two days later, but he did so for less money, and for only one year. The Eagles released Cox after deciding not to guarantee his salary for $18 million for 2022, with more guaranteed years to follow.
Instead, Cox returned on a one-year deal worth as much as $14 million.
In addition, the Eagles drafted Cox’s successor in Jordan Davis in the first round of the NFL draft.
Yet there Cox was, saying that he was glad to be back, and that he attended five of the six practice sessions during these two weeks, even though they were voluntary.
So what changed?
“I knew they wanted me here,” Cox said Wednesday, speaking to the media for the first time since last season ended. “That was just part of the process. Everything was respectful, professional, and obviously, I appreciate the organization for that, and we got things figured out.”
Sure, Cox could have signed with another team, and he admitted that other teams did approach him.
“Obviously, when you’re a free agent, teams do reach out,” Cox said. “It’s part of the process. I get it. But the Eagles wanted me here.”
It’s possible no other team offered as much money as the Eagles did, even for the one season. After all, Cox is 31 years old, and he has had just 3.5 sacks in two of the last three seasons.
Cox also said that he wanted to play his entire career in Philadelphia. He was the Eagles’ first-round draft pick in 2012, and he is considered among the greatest defensive tackles in team history.
For now, Cox is excited about the Eagles’ defensive tackle position this season, and his role as a mentor. With Cox, Javon Hargrave, Davis and Milton Williams, the Eagles have the potential to have one of the best defensive tackle rotations in the NFL.
“There’s 1A and there’s 1B. There’s not a drop-off,” Cox said. “There’s no second group. There’s no second-string … You expect the guys behind you to play up to the level you’re playing at, and with the sense of urgency you’re playing with.”
Camp Sirianni closes
The Eagles were one of two teams to have just six practice sessions, and no mandatory minicamp.
The Eagles won’t convene again until reporting for training camp on July 26.
Yet head coach Nick Sirianni said the Eagles got plenty of work in, even though they didn’t have team 11-on-11 drills. It was primarily individual drills, and 7-on-7 drills.
Sirianni said that was the goal in the spring practice, to stress the fundamentals in individual drills, as opposed to boggling down in 11-on-11 team drills.
“When you have … five or six periods of team periods, well, naturally your individual period time is going to shrink,” Sirianni said. “We were able to have 35 minutes of individual time of perfecting our fundamentals … The off-season program, we had a ton of fundamentals work, which is going to put us in a position to have more team periods when we get into training camp.”
Fine finale for Hurts
During the 7-on-7 drills, the Eagles did not have their top two receivers in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Jalen Reagor also wasn’t in attendance.
Yet Jalen Hurts hit on two straight deep passes in 7-on-7 drills. The first was to John Hightower, who got behind Anthony Harris and Avonte Maddox, dove and caught the ball about 50 yards down the field.
The next was to Quez Watkins, who got behind his defender for another gain of 50 yards or so.
After those plays, some of the offensive players started trash talking the defensive players. Sirianni, meanwhile, said it showed that the work Hurts had put in during the offseason is paying off.
“He’s working every day to get better, and I’m really pleased where he is right now, but we have to continue to lay the groundwork,” Sirianni said. “He has to continue to get better and better and better … I thought he had a pretty good day. But really, what I noticed is he’s really seeing where to go with the football and going there quick.”
A message for Reagor
Reagor was absent Wednesday, just as he was last Friday, which was the only other day the media were allowed to watch practice.
Still, Sirianni said Reagor had “great attendance” during the offseason program.
But after two disappointing seasons, the expectations have changed somewhat for Reagor, the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2020.
“There’s no denying that Jalen has talent,” Sirianni said. “He just has to continue to try to be consistent. That was our discussion … “One of the things that we talked about was well, ‘OK, you’re not at TCU where you get 11 balls thrown to you a game. You might get three or you might get two. Take advantage of the ones that you get and just be consistent with it.’
“And that’s what we’re working on right now.”
Seumalo’s new spot
Isaac Seumalo admitted that he had two surgeries on his foot, the first shortly after suffering his season ending injury in Week 3 against Dallas. The second came in February. Seumalo said he hopes to be ready for training camp. Seumalo is also switching positions from left guard to right guard.
That’s because Landon Dickerson played so well at left guard next to left tackle Jordan Mailata. Also, right guard Brandon Brooks retired. Seumalo is expected to compete with Jack Driscoll and possibly second-round pick Cam Jurgens for the starting job.
“Tell you what, Landon balled out last year,” Seumalo said. “So you know if they play so well together, I don’t mind (moving).”
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
