Cox ready to teach his enormous understudy all he can

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Jordan Davis is noticeably taller that Fletcher Cox but that doesn’t stop him from looking up at the Eagles great.

Now that the two are teammates, Davis wants to soak up as much knowledge as he can from Cox.

And Cox is eager to teach.

“I want to be able to share a lot of information with Jordan and I know he’ll get it,” Cox said last week. “I know it’s a lot for him. He’s a rookie. I’ve been in that same position before, when guys have kind of taken me under their arms and kind of led the way.

“I’m excited about Jordan and we converse all the time and talk about football and, more importantly, about life. About how have things been lately with you. I’m excited about him to see him go in training camp.”

Cox, 31, has been with the Eagles since he was the 12th overall pick back in the 2012 draft. He’s been to six Pro Bowls and has 58 career sacks. He’ll go down as one of the greatest players in franchise history. But his willingness to teach a guy who could become his eventually replacement is just another line to add to his impressive resume.

Cox looks back at the leaders who were on the team when he arrived in 2012 and wants to continue that legacy for Davis, who was drafted with the No. 13 overall pick less than a couple moths ago.

“He’s one of those guys that I look up to,” Davis said. “And it’s crazy to say that I’m playing next to him. Regardless, he’s always coaching me up. I feel that he wants me to be the best player I can be for the betterment of the team.”

Cox arrived late for the voluntary program this spring but popped his head in as a sign of respect. So he did get some time on the practice field with his understudy — half what could be a deadly defensive tackle rotation.

While Cox might not be back in 2023 (he’s on a one-year deal this year), he’s part of a rotation with Davis, Javon Hargrave and Milton Williams. That’s a really impressive four-man rotation.

“It’s great. I’ve talked to him, picked his brain,” Cox said. “The little time that I have been here with him, I’ve been on him a little bit about just how to be a professional. Just trying to teach him how to be a pro, how to practice, how to handle certain situations. It’s good.”

In recent seasons, Cox has really embraced his role as a veteran leader. He’s helped some younger players like Williams, Marlon Tuipulotu, Raequan Williams, Destiny Vaeao and others. He has gotten this down to a science, but now he has a premier talent to tutor.

Maybe in a decade, Davis will be passing down some of the tips Cox is giving him this offseason.

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