The Eagles announced that they agreed to a four-year deal with Fletcher Cox, their first round draft pick.  Philadelphia selected the defensive tackle from Mississippi State with the 12th overall pick on the draft, after trading up.

The Eagles traded the 15th overall pick, along with a fourth rounder and a sixth rounder, to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for the 12th overall pick.

Signing an NFL contract made today a special day for Cox, who grew up in a small Mississippi town with fewer than 12,000 people.

"Being from a small town, that doesn't usually happen around Yazoo City, or you know, probably from Mississippi anywhere, where young athletes get a chance to play in the NFL, or not even that, but get to go to college," Cox said.  "It just comes from hard work and listening."

The Eagles have now signed all of their draft picks well before training camp opens on July 22nd. Cox said he didn't want to fall behind and was assured by his agent that a deal would be done early in the summer.

"If you miss three days that means you're three days behind and somebody is three days ahead of you," Cox said."I talked to my agent a lot and he said that the deal would have gotten done way before training camp and I trusted him to know that he would get it done, and he got it done."

Cox is 6-foot-4, weighs in at 298 pounds and rated as the best pass rushing defensive tackle among the first round prospects.

Cox racked up 114 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks in three seasons in college. Last year, Cox amassed five sacks, 14.5 tackles for a loss and 56 total tackles.  The junior also forced a fumble and recovered one.

After participating in rookie camp, OTAs and mini camp, Cox feels he's already improved and plans to keep his attitude the same as training camp nears.

"My biggest improvement was getting off the ball and just learning how to practice with those guys, with the whole team," Cox said. "My mindset is just going in and doing what I'm coached to do, what Coach Washburn wants me to do and that's work hard and just be relentless."

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