Eagles sign Fletcher, claim DE Taylor

The Eagles today announced they have agreed to terms with 2012 first-round draft selection DT Fletcher Cox on a four-year deal. The Eagles have now signed all nine of their 2012 draft picks.

The Eagles moved up three picks in the 2012 NFL Draft to select Cox 12th overall. Honored with an All-SEC first team selection in 2011, Cox (6-4, 298) compiled 114 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, and five blocked kicks in 36 games (27 starts) during a three-year career at Mississippi State. As a junior in 2011, he led the Bulldogs and posted career-highs with 14.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and two blocked kicks. During his sophomore campaign, Cox posted 29 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks. A Freshman All-SEC honoree in 2009, the true freshman racked up 29 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss.

A Yazoo City, MS native, Cox was rated the No. 5 weak side defensive end in the country and the No. 2 player in Mississippi coming out of high school by Rivals.com. At Yazoo City High School, he made 104 total tackles during his senior season, including 10 sacks, while also collecting one interception and a fumble recovery. During his junior campaign, Cox tallied 11 sacks as part of 103 total tackles along with two interceptions, one of which he returned for a TD.

Philadelphia also claimed DE Monte Taylor off of waivers from the Seattle Seahawks.

Originally a rookie free agent signing of Seattle following the 2012 NFL Draft, Taylor (6-5, 266) played collegiately at Cincinnati, where he posted 24 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and five sacks in 24 games. In 2011, he registered four sacks and four tackles for a loss along with three forced fumbles. The 24-year-old Los Angeles, CA native recorded 45 tackles, eight blocked kicks and five interceptions while attending El Camino Community College (Torrance, CA) from 2008-09.

An offensive and defensive standout at Washington High School, Taylor was recognized with first-team all-Marine League honors on offense and second team on defense played in the All-City Gridiron Game and was named one of the top-two tight ends in Los Angeles coming out of high school. He was also an a star on the track and field squad, earning Mission League titles in the long jump, and triple jump, and as a member of the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays.