A Decade of Dominance
Fletcher Cox is one of the all-time great Philadelphia Eagles. The former first-round pick out of Mississippi State has played his entire career with the Eagles. The six-time pro bowler is fifth all-time in Eagles history with 58 sacks and was a vital part of the 2017 Super Bowl winning squad.
In recent years fans have slowly grown impatient with Cox. Although his production has dipped over the past few seasons, I do not understand the frustration with him. It is not surprising that a player of his age has declined. Even with his lower production, Cox has been a key part of the Eagles defensive line. Nowadays, it is not often you have a player spend their entire career with one team. Therefore, there should be nothing but praise and appreciation for Fletcher Cox every time he puts on the midnight green.
Passing of the Torch
But with time, all things must change. And now is a better time than ever. Now is the time for Cox to pass the torch. So it is fitting that the Georgia defensive tackle was selected one spot after Cox at 13th overall.
Although it is early in camp Jordan Davis has begun to get first-team reps. The rookie will be a big part of the defense this season. I do not believe it matters if he is a “starter” or not during the season. This defensive line will constantly rotate to keep everyone fresh so Davis will get plenty of snaps. However, Davis will become one of the starting defensive tackles before the season is over. Even his teammates have been in awe of him on the field.
Jordan Davis says the Eagles want him to be around 330-340 pounds
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 1, 2022
Linebacker Kyzir White says he’s never seen anybody like Jordan. The man is a monster
Jordan got a bunch of first team reps today and it was hard to see the Lineman he was up against ? pic.twitter.com/hjsaDHjcEw
The Defensive Line
The Eagles have a three-headed monster with Cox, Davis, and Hargrave at the tackle position. They also added Haason Reddick, who will be their first outside rushing threat in years. In the past, teams have been able to double Cox whenever they want. But now, they will have to pick their poison. Having an edge rusher like Reddick should free up space in the middle for Davis to impose his will.
Future of the Franchise?
Jordan Davis is going to have an impactful year for the Eagles. Not only will he be vital to containing the run, but Davis will also provide pressure on the quarterback. My prediction this season for Davis is: 48 tackles and five sacks. Davis will also add two forced fumbles and a rushing touchdown. Lane Johnson got a surprise touchdown last season, and I think that will be Davis this year. I can’t imagine anyone being able to stop him at the goal line.
Davis can potentially be the next Fletcher Cox for this Eagles franchise. Who knows how long Cox will be an Eagles player after this season, but there is no better player to pass the torch to than Jordan Davis. The Eagles have had one of the top defensive tackles in the league for the last ten years and now they have an obvious replacement. So look for Davis to have an impactful rookie season and begin his climb as the next franchise tackle for the Eagles.
Photo Credit: Tim Hawk/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
