Fletcher Cox is going to finish shy of his goal to become the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, but the Eagles' star defensive tackle was given a huge award Friday, being named to his first Associated Press All-Pro team.
Cox and center Jason Kelce are the Eagles' only two All-Pro representatives. Despite setting a record for catches as a tight end, Zach Ertz was snubbed (see story).
In his seventh NFL season, Cox piled up a career-high 10 1/2 sacks this season to go along with 34 quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Really, the stats don't come close to telling the whole story with Cox.
The 28-year-old former first-round pick is the Eagles' best defensive player and the case can be made that he's the best player on their entire roster. He's lived up to his draft status; the Eagles picked him at No. 12 overall back in 2012. There's a reason they gave him a $100 million deal a few years ago. He's still well worth it.
While this is Cox's fourth consecutive season being named to the Pro Bowl, this is his first time being on the All-Pro team. He had been on the All-Pro second team three times before (2014, 2015, 2017). But now he's on the real list. Cox is the first Eagles' defensive lineman to make an All-Pro team since Hugh Douglas in 2000.
On Thursday, Cox agreed that the last month has been the best month of his NFL career. He had 6 1/2 sacks in December. He was named the NFC's Defensive Player of the Week for his three-sack game against the Redskins in Week 17.
While this is the first appearance on the All-Pro team for Cox, this is the second-consecutive All-Pro nod for Kelce. In the last two seasons, Kelce has been snubbed by Pro Bowl voting but has been named to the even more prestigious All-Pro team.
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Kelce, 31, became a legend in Philly 11 months ago when he had that impassioned speech on the art museum steps, but this guy should be a legend for his on-field play too. He overcame a significant knee injury earlier this season to get back to playing at an extremely high level and didn't miss a game. He has played in every game over the last four seasons.
"In my opinion, he's the best in the league," Nick Foles said about Kelce earlier this week.
While it's sometimes hard to gauge how effective any offensive lineman truly is, Kelce means a ton to the Eagles for a multitude of reasons. He's one of the best centers ever in space and his ability to think and react on the field is next to none.
Not bad for a sixth-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2011.
The AP All-Pro team is selected by a panel of writers throughout the country.
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