DT Fletcher Cox is Eagles’ Choice With 12th Pick

The Eagles have selected defensive tackle Fletcher Cox from Mississippi State with the 12th overall pick, which Philadelphia acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks.

The selection addresses Philadelphia's need for a true penetrating three-technique.  Cox does his best work disrupting upfield. He still has a long way to go technique wise, but his relentless motor is invaluable. Cox racked up 22.5 sacks in 35 career games at Mississippi State, including 12.5 as a junior last season.

"I’ll bring excitement with me to Philadelphia. I’m a guy with a great attitude, hard-working and a guy that never quits and always competes.”," Cox said in a conference call.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 298 pounds, Cox ran the 40-yard dash at the combine in 4.79 seconds, which was faster than any defensive tackle.

Andy Reid said Cox will be a part of the Eagles tackle rotation in Philadelphia's defense.  Reid and defensive line coach Jim Washburn repeatedly used the word "athletic" to describe Cox's ability, noting his versatility.

The scouting report on Cox courtesy of Draftcountdown.com reads:

Strengths:
• Excellent size w/ long arms and big hands
• Athletic w/ great speed, agility, quickness
• Real active with terrific range and mobility
• Disruptive and able to penetrate backfields
• Shows array of pass rush moves and counters
• Able to play multiple positions and schemes
• Still improving and posseses a lot of upside

Weaknesses:
• Instincts and awareness are still developing
• Is not particularly explosive off of the ball
• Technique and hand use will need refinement
• Must become more consistent with leverage
• Is not overly stout at the point of attack
• Some concerns about maturity in the past

Reid said the team viewed Cox as the best tackle in the draft. Cox was the second defensive tackle taken after Dontario Poe from Memphis, who went with the 11th pick to Kansas City.

Cox said he wasn't surprised to be taken with the 12th pick -- “I wasn’t surprised. I don’t get caught up in that too much. I was just sitting at the table, talking and having fun with my family until my phone rang and I was like, ‘Uh oh, hold on for a second."

Cox said he thinks his skill set fits in with the team’s defensive scheme, "“I think we played the same scheme that they play. The attack front, but also gap control.”

"He’s built for this style of a defense where you’re rushing the passer and reading the run," said Reid.  "I think you’ll like his athletic ability. You’ll see that, and you’ll get excited about that.”

Washburn talked to Reid a lot about Cox and it certainly helped sell Reid to make the pick.

“He went down there and when you work these kids out, you’re able to teach them techniques that you want done. Then, some can handle it and some can’t with the drill work that you put them through. He put him through a phase of different drills and he said that he was so quick to learn. Wash didn’t have a helmet and pads on him, right, so he wasn’t doing it live. He was able to pick it up and execute it in front of Washburn. I think he has a good work ethic on top of all that.”

In their trade with the Seahawks, the Eagles moved up three spots from No. 15 also giving up their fourth- and sixth-round picks, Nos. 114 and 172 overall. The Eagles have seven selections remaining.