Philadelphia Eagles

Fletcher Cox not bothered by pre-draft trade rumors

Published Jun. 2, 2015 12:42 p.m. ET

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Over the course of the 2014 season, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox was arguably the team's best defensive player. When Cox's name came up in pre-draft trade rumors related to Marcus Mariota, many were surprised that the Eagles were willing to move him--even for Mariota. During the Eagles' first set of OTAs last week, Cox told reporters that he refused to let this notion bother him.

“It would have been a distraction if I was to let that bother me or put me one step behind,” Cox said, per The Philadelphia Daily Inquirer. “I’m not trying to take on step backwards, I want to take one step forward every day. My job here is to play football and that’s the most important thing to me.”

Playing the five-technique defensive end position in Bill Davis' 3-4 scheme, Cox racked up 70 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, 14 hurries and a forced fumble in 2014. He finished as Pro Football Focus' fifth-best 3-4 defensive end with plus marks as a pass rusher and run defender. Cox's disruption on the interior allowed outside linebackers Connor Barwin, Trent Cole and Brandon Graham to isolate themselves and win in one-on-one situations.

Fletcher finished 2014 as Pro Football Focus' No. 46 overall player . According to Pro Football Focus, Cox's 35 defensive stops against the run were the third-most in the NFL among all 3-4 defensive ends.

The Eagles picked up the fifth-year, $7.799 million contract option on Cox and he is under contract with the team through the 2016 season.

(h/t Philadelphia Daily Inquirer)

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

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