On a weekly basis, I will be evaluating defensive ends that signed some sort of contract in this offseason. Players on-field performance will be evaluated against the annual salary of their new contract. In terms of on-field production, I will be taking into account stats relevant to the defensive end position such as percentage of defensive team snaps played, tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and hurries. The basis for contract evaluation will be the APY of a given player’s contract.
This week, we will be taking a look at players on two surprisingly, undefeated teams.
Fletcher Cox
The attention in Philadelphia is on rookie QB Carson Wentz and rightfully so. However, the Eagles defense quietly leads the league in points against at 9.0 points per game. Fletcher Cox has been an integral part of this success. While the Eagles may not have expected such immediate results from Wentz, the same cannot be said of Fletcher Cox. Cox signed a 6 year, $102.6M deal with the Eagles in the offseason. That type of contract signifies the expectation and confidence the Eagles have in Cox to lead the defense. Through three games, Cox has 11 total tackles, 3 sacks and 4 QB hurries. Cox had a stellar game against the Steelers, recording 2 sacks and a forced fumble. While much of the spotlight has been attributed to Carson Wentz, Cox and the Eagles defense have proved paramount in leading the Eagles to a 3-0 record and first place in the NFC East.
Chris Long
Continuing with the theme of undefeated teams with young QB’s, we move on to the New England Patriots and defensive end Chris Long. Long signed a 1 year, $2.375M deal with the Patriots in the offseason. In many ways, Long’s signing with the Patriots exemplifies a typical Belichick move. A low risk, high reward deal with a veteran player many have started to not believe in. Long has been on the field for 71% of the defensive snaps in New England, a figure that is right in line with his counterpart Jabaal Sheard. 29% of Long’s tackles have been for a loss and he has 1 sack and 3 QB hurries through three games. It will be interesting to see how Long’s production changes with the reinstatement of Rob Ninkovich after week 4, but for now, Long seems to be experiencing a somewhat of a career revival with New England.
Here are the current stats for the newly contracted rushers as tabulated by Sportingcharts.com.
| Player | Team | APY | % Def Snaps | Solo Tackle | Tot Tackle | TFL | TFL % | Sacks | Hurries | Stuffs |
| Jason Pierre-Paul | Giants | $10,000,000 | 98% | 11 | 15 | 2 | 13% | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Fletcher Cox | Eagles | $17,100,000 | 74% | 9 | 11 | 2 | 18% | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Muhammad Wilkerson | Jets | $17,200,000 | 97% | 10 | 13 | 4 | 31% | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Olivier Vernon | Giants | $17,000,000 | 94% | 5 | 7 | 2 | 29% | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Chris Long | Patriots | $2,375,000 | 71% | 5 | 7 | 2 | 29% | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Mario Williams | Dolphins | $8,500,000 | 66% | 3 | 4 | 2 | 50% | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Malik Jackson | Jaguars | $14,250,000 | 65% | 3 | 4 | 1 | 25% | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Derek Wolfe | Broncos | $9,175,000 | 71% | 9 | 10 | 1 | 10% | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Charles Johnson | Panthers | $3,000,000 | 66% | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Jason Jones | Lions | $1,535,000 | 63% | 4 | 8 | 1 | 13% | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Andre Branch | Dolphins | $2,750,000 | 50% | 1 | 6 | 1 | 17% | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| William Hayes | Rams | $5,833,333 | 46% | 6 | 11 | 2 | 18% | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Adrian Clayborn | Falcons | $4,250,000 | 53% | 4 | 4 | 1 | 25% | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Jared Crick | Broncos | $2,000,000 | 77% | 3 | 5 | 1 | 20% | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Stephen Paea | Browns | $1,900,000 | 30% | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Benson Mayowa | Cowboys | $2,750,000 | 57% | 1 | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Derrick Shelby | Falcons | $4,500,000 | 57% | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Wallace Gilberry | Lions | $1,250,000 | 49% | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Vinny Curry | Eagles | $9,250,000 | 45% | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Robert Ayers Jr. | Buccaneers | $6,500,000 | 44% | 4 | 4 | 1 | 25% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dwight Freeney | Falcons | $2,000,000 | 40% | 2 | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitch Unrein | Bears | $1,130,000 | 56% | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Cedric Thornton | Cowboys | $4,250,000 | 31% | 4 | 7 | 1 | 14% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ziggy Hood | Redskins | $935,000 | 63% | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jarvis Jenkins | Jets | $3,000,000 | 24% | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Quinton Dial | 49ers | $4,000,667 | 52% | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tank Carradine | 49ers | $2,650,000 | 37% | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyrunn Walker | Lions | $1,600,000 | 37% | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eugene Sims | Rams | $3,333,333 | 28% | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Winn | Broncos | $760,000 | 25% | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ricardo Mathews | Steelers | $760,000 | 21% | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kendall Reyes | Redskins | $2,500,000 | 9% | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony Jerod-Eddie | 49ers | $1,000,000 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Trattou | Vikings | $810,000 | 1% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rob Ninkovich | Patriots | $2,500,000 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aldon Smith | Raiders | $5,750,000 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 |