Are the pockets on these really deep? All the way down to where the cargo pockets start?

The pockets are deep and extend roughly 3 inches further down past the top of the cargo pocket. Sticking a ruler in my pocket, the depth on the short side (near the side seam) is 6 inches and the depth on the long side is more than 12 inches (near the front). The pocket continues from the pocket opening, at the top, more than four full inches toward the zipper. I'm able to place a full 12.5 inch ruler in my pocket and easily slide it to the zipper side of the pocket so it is hidden and not bent. I took a 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper, folded it in half 4.25 x 11 and placed into the pocket without it showing. Since the bottom of the pocket is not square, there was a bit of bending at the bottom corners of the paper, but the vast majority fit flat. (Unlike the cargo pockets with sides made from the colored fabric of the shorts, the two side pockets are made from off white material that is anchored at the mouth of the pocket and stitched into the waist band at the top, but the sides of the pocket and the bottom is floating between your leg and the colored fabric of the shorts.) I hope this answers your question.