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Pro Football Focus, everyone's favorite football grading platform, recently released their entire list of the PFF Top 101 NFL players from the 2014 season.
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Four Eagles players made the cut. That's two less than last year's total of six. All four players rank within the top 74 and two rank in the top 46.
Here's what PFF had to say about the four Eagles.
14) OT Jason Peters
"This was always on the cards the way Peters finished the 2013 season. A fantastic pass blocker (just one game graded negatively in this regard all year) who allowed one or fewer pressures in eight games, it’s his run blocking that sets him apart from other tackles. He’s more active and more dominant than his peers with a rare capability to get an in-game highlight reel with his excellence.
Best Performance: Week 9, PHI @ HST, +6.0
Key Stat: Had the highest run blocking grade of all left tackles."
Peters is 33 but he's still one of the top linemen in the game. Franchise.
46) DE Fletcher Cox
"Only four 3-4 defensive ends would score a higher overall grade than Cox, who was the standout Eagle on their defense. Logging a frankly absurd 962 snaps, he was relentless despite what the sack numbers might say. A lot of his best work was done in the run game, where his ability to bulldoze through/over/around gaps saw many a running back met with him before they expecting.
Best Performance: Week 10, CAR @ PHI, +6.4
Key Stat: 35 defensive stops against the run were third most of all 3-4 defensive ends."
Cox got snubbed when it came to the Pro Bowl (sixth team alternate!) but PFF is giving him some much-deserved love here. He's only 24 and he's already abeast.
59) OG Evan Mathis
"Injury looked set to rob Mathis of his streak appearing in this list, but by returning in Week 10 he compiled enough snaps (608) and was so dominant (second-highest grade of all guards) that he cracks it again. Mathis again starred with his run blocking which remains as good as any in the league, earning positive grades in each of the games he appeared in.
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Best Performance: Week 13, PHI @ DAL, +5.6
Key Stat: Graded positively in every game he completed."
Mathis always grades out well on PFF so this hardly comes as a surprise. But will he be returning to Philadelphia this offseason?
74) OLB Brandon Graham
"Imagine where Graham might have got to if he had played more than 524 snaps? That was really the only thing holding back a man who finished with the fourth-highest grade of all 3-4 outside linebackers who was especially productive rushing the passer. We’re excited to see what he can do with a path to more snaps in 2015, because if he maintains his 2014 work over a larger sample size watch out the top of the list.
Best Performance: Week 1, JAX @ PHI, +3.5
Key Stat: His 17.0 Pass Rushing Productivity score was the best in the league."
Like Mathis, Graham has always graded favorably on PFF. The former first round pick has excelled in a bench role. Can he be effective while replacing Trent Cole in a starting role?
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One current Eagles player who made the list but didn't play for Philadelphia in 2014 is former Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray. He ranked 31st overall.
"Giving every opportunity to shine, Murray wasn’t going to miss out on cashing in behind the Cowboys’ stunning offensive line. Led the league in yardage, proving the standout runner during the regular season. Fell behind others because of his work in the passing game combined with the excellence of one other in the postseason. Still, tremendous year.
Best Performance: Week 4, NO @ DAL, +2.4
Key Stat: His 25 runs over 15 yards were most in the league by seven."