Eagles Draft Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox

The Eagles went into the draft not thinking they could get Fletcher Cox.

The team had the Mississippi State defensive tackle rated as the best prospect at his position, and thought that he would go in the first six picks – a price they weren’t willing to pay.

But he kept falling, and falling. And when he got close to enough to their spot, the Eagles made a move, traded with the Seattle Seahawks and snatched up the 6-foot-4, 298-pound Cox with the 12th overall pick.

To move up three spots from No. 15, the Eagles gave the Seahawks the 15th pick, their fourth-round pick and the best of their three sixth-round picks. Coach Andy Reid said that the Eagles went into the draft committed to not dealing away either of their two second-round picks or their third-round selection.

And they likely would have needed to part with one or maybe two of those if they wanted to jump into the top six or seven.

For the first time in some time, Reid took a player in the first round that many had him targeting and that many fans pleaded he would take. Reid, the theory goes, needs to bounce back from 2011′s 8-8 season in his 14th year with the Eagles if he wants to see a 15th.

Getting Cox, many believe, will help him right away. Reid often looks long term. He may not have that luxury this year, and that may have led to the confluence of his and Eagles fan’s win-now objectives in getting Cox.

The Eagles entered the draft with nine picks. They still have six even after giving Seattle the 114th and 172d overall picks. Along with their second and third round picks, the Eagles still have a fifth rounder, two sixth rounders and the seventh rounder that came Wednesday after the Eagles traded Asante Samuel to Atlanta.