Report: Fletcher Cox Deal Is Close To Being Done

Fletcher Cox. (Jeff Fusco)

Fletcher Cox is close to signing a long-term deal potentially worth up to $52 million in fully guaranteed money, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole reported. Cole added that the Eagles want to sign him “earlier in this offseason” so he’ll participate in new head coach Doug Pederson’s activities.

Amid his unclear contract situation, Cox is one of two players who is expected to skip the Eagles’ voluntary minicamp this week. Darren Sproles, the other player, will not attend because of a family matter.

Despite his absence, Cox’s teammates appear unfazed.

“Hey, go get what you’re going to get, because you don’t know how long you’re going to play,” Brandon Graham said. “He has a family he needs to provide for. I know that both parties want to be here, so I know they’re going to get it done.”

Marcus Smith said players won’t mind that Cox is skipping workouts until activities are mandatory, while Bennie Logan added that Cox is still regularly communicating with the other defensive linemen. Graham mentioned that he’s been keeping Cox updated on what they learn so the Pro Bowl defensive tackle isn’t too far behind when he gets back.

“At the end of the day, it’s business,” Logan said. “I ain’t worried about Fletch or anything like that right now. I’m just focused on me, because I know when it’s time to go, I can count on him to go.”

JENKINS ON SMITH’S DEATH

Malcolm Jenkins and Will Smith traveled a similar path to get to the NFL. Both are East Coast natives who attended Ohio State and were drafted by the Saints. Jenkins spent five seasons in New Orleans along side the defensive end and won a Super Bowl with Smith, who was shot dead on April 9 in Louisiana.

“It’s been a tough week. [He’s] been kind of a bigger brother to me,” Jenkins said. “The one good thing is that a lot of guys from the Super Bowl team and old teammates came into New Orleans and kind of got back together. For him to leave behind a wife and three kids is really, really tough. It’s been a tough week for everybody, but hopefully it wasn’t all in vain.”

Three days after Smith’s death, Saints head coach Sean Payton told USA Today’s Jarrett Bell that he thinks the United States should ban guns. Jenkins said he isn’t sure what should be done to try to prevent similar acts of gun violence in the future.

“I think everybody would agree that there is an issue with gun violence, but I’m not sure what the solution is going to be,” Jenkins said. “I think everybody has different ways of solutions. I don’t necessarily think guns need to be eradicated, but there definitely needs to be something to stop some of the senselessness.”