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NFL Rumors: Eagles’ Fletcher Cox To Be Traded For The No. 1 Overall Draft Pick?

By Phillip Dengler
Published on: 05:39 PST, Apr 13, 2016

With the 2016 NFL draft now only two weeks away, rumors are heating up regarding the Philadelphia Eagles and their plans for the first round. With the No. 8 overall pick, the Eagles have a ton of flexibility. While they reportedly failed at trading up in last year’s draft to acquire Marcus Mariota, the latest reports are saying that the Eagles could potentially put together a package featuring defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and the No. 8 pick, in order acquire the No. 1 overall pick. With the No. 1 overall pick, the Eagles would then draft North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the Eagles have been linked to Wentz, California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff, and Memphis Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch.

In spending time with all of the top ranked college quarterbacks, the Eagles’ organization is clearly showing that it has an interest in drafting a signal caller in the first round. While there is a chance that Goff or Wentz falls to the Eagles at No. 8, the odds say they will be scooped up before the Eagles are on the board. Lynch and Prescott are basically guaranteed to be available when the Eagles pick, but they are both viewed to be in a tier below Goff and Wentz.

In addition to another team trading up in order to acquire Wentz, the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers are also rumored to be in the market for a quarterback. Since the Browns pick at No. 2 and the 49ers at No. 7, the Eagles would have to trade for the No. 1 overall pick in order to ensure that they get Wentz. The good news for the Eagles is that the Tennessee Titans hold the No. 1 overall pick. After drafting Mariota in last year’s draft, quarterback is the last position that they are targeting.

While Fletcher Cox is only 25-years-old and viewed as one of the top defensive tackles in the entire NFL, some league insiders believe that he could be traded. As reported by Howard Eskin of 94WIP, Cox recently turned down a contract from the Eagles that included $60 million in guaranteed money. Cox’s agent has since denied the report, but it raises the question of what is going on inside the Eagles’ front office. Did they leak the report to Eskin in order to avoid backlash from the fans in the event that they trade him?

According to NJ Advance Media, trading Cox for the chance to draft Wentz is a move that could benefit the Eagles over the long term.

“Another way to potentially trade Cox? In a deal — for the No. 1 pick. If the Eagles can’t come to an agreement with Cox, and are convinced that there is a franchise quarterback in this draft, they could use to him to move up. Trading Cox for the chance to draft a player like Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil might not be worth it. But for a quarterback, such as North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, it could be — especially if Wentz turns out to be the player many scouts think he could be.”

Signing Cox to a long-term extension should be the Eagles’ top priority, but it could make sense to trade him if they do not feel as though they can reach a reasonable agreement. While defensive tackle is an extremely important position, quarterback surpasses it by a wide margin. Wentz is still unproven, but if the Eagles believe that he can be an elite NFL quarterback, the organization has to do everything they can in order to draft him.

As reported by CBS Sports, the Titans already have a “solid offer” on the table for the No. 1 overall pick.

“The source in question didn’t reveal what team it was, but the Eagles are the speculative team here, ‘because Roseman trades, and going from eight to one is onerous but possible in terms of price tag.’ But it also sounds like the deal isn’t quite to Tennessee’s liking: it needs to be ‘sweetened’ a bit before the Titans are willing to move down.”

A potential deal would likely include the No. 8 overall pick and additional picks from this year’s draft and next year’s. If Cox is included in the deal, the Eagles would still have to give up the No. 8 overall pick, but the remaining compensation would be minimized.

ESPN also touched on the possibility.

“Here’s where Sando’s proposed trade comes in. He suggests the Eagles could trade Cox and the No. 8 pick in the 2016 NFL draft to the Tennessee Titans for the No. 1 overall pick. That would allow the Eagles to take Carson Wentz or whichever quarterback they have rated at the top of their list.”

With Fletcher Cox’s uncertain contract situation, rumors will continue to link him as a possible trade candidate in order to acquire the No. 1 overall draft pick from the Tennessee Titans. If the Philadelphia Eagles do somehow manage to acquire the No. 1 pick, expect North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz to be the selection.

[Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images]

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