It’s been a bizarre debate over who the top defensive tackle is in 2011’s draft class. Jerel Worthy and Michael Brockers were the early top-dogs, then the title shifted to Dontari Poe after the combine. But as draft day neared, that title seemingly shifted to the Mississippi State Bulldog Fletcher Cox. Though significantly smaller than the aforementioned, Cox was not small on the stat sheet netting 14.5 tackles for loss versus a formidable SEC schedule. He also came up big in the combine, performing fluidly in the field drills and running a blistering 4.78 40-yard dash.
As it turns out, Poe beat-out Cox as the first defensive lineman taken off the board. Cox will feel very much at home playing the three technique in Philadelphia, giving them a formidable looking defensive front alongside Cullen Jenkins and having Trent Cole and Jason Babin on the edge. Pressures should be aplenty in Philadelphia, which bodes well not just for the Eagles, but for Cole/Jenkins/Babin fantasy owners alike.
Cox's excellent athleticism bodes well for him to collapse the pocket in a quarterback-rich division, which the Eagles, who had the highest pass-rush grade in 2011 (+111.3) have to be thrilled about.
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