The Philadephia Eagles agreed to a contract extension with defensive lineman Fletcher Cox on Monday that includes the highest amount of guaranteed money for any non-quarterback contract in NFL history.
Eagles and Fletcher Cox agree to 6-year, $103M extension that includes $63M gtd, per sources. Highest guarantee for a non-QB in NFL history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 13, 2016
If Fletcher Cox’s reported (unconfirmed) $63M is fully guaranteed, it will rank 2nd among all active NFL contracts (Eli/Rivers $65M).
— Spotrac (@spotrac) June 13, 2016
I would like to thank Mr.Lurie and the whole Eagles organization ….
— fletcher cox (@fcoxx_91) June 13, 2016
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, $36.299 million of the money is fully guaranteed at the time of the signing, and $55.549 million will be guaranteed by March 2017. Here’s more (and go to PFT if you want a full-on breakdown of the contract):
In all, it’s a six-year, $102.6 million extension, with a value at signing of $110.379 over seven years. $63.299 million is guaranteed for injury. Given the structure of the deal, it will be virtually impossible for the Eagles to dump Cox before the guarantee fully vests. The cap charge for cutting him after one year would be $20.8 million, and the cap charge for cutting him after two years would be $20.4 million.
Cox, 25, has been a force on the defensive line for Philadelphia since he entered the league in 2012 out of Mississippi State. The 6’4″, 300-pounder had 9.5 sacks, 71 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2015. Pro Football Focus graded Cox as their No. 2 3-4 defensive end behind only some guy named J.J. Watt in 2015. Now, Cox will be asked to move inside to defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme under new Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, but that should be a seamless transition for him (and the Eagles obviously think so if they’re handing him this contract).
The other takeaway from this signing is in regard to Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller.
Von Miller just saw the numbers on Fletcher Cox’s deal pic.twitter.com/qiMCp6shqK — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 13, 2016
Live look at Von Miller: pic.twitter.com/quklBS1ZDD
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) June 13, 2016
Things have gotten ugly between the Denver Broncos and Miller in contract talks, with the Super Bowl 50 MVP particularly being angry about a $39.8 million figure for guaranteed money in Denver’s recent offer. Miller’s so unhappy with the negotiations, he even cropped Broncos VP/GM John Elway out of a photo at the White House a few days ago. Well, with the guaranteed money Cox is getting, the Broncos will really need to boost their guaranteed money offer to Miller if they want him to remain in Denver long-term, as 9News‘ Mike Klis writes:
Cox’ new deal did the Broncos no favors. If the Broncos are to reach an agreement with Miller they may have to, one, increase their guarantee beyond $63 million; and two, move up that third-year full guarantee trigger from year three to after year one of Miller’s contract.
If no multiyear agreement is reached by the league-mandated deadline of July 15, Miller would have to either play the 2016 season on the $14.129 million franchise tag – or refuse to play on the tag.
So, if the Broncos want to get a contract extension done with Miller, they only have a month to do so. And it’s likely that Miller demands the guaranteed money tops the record number Cox just got.
