Keep A Close Eye On Derek Cox
February 13th, 2013
There’s a darn good chance that one month from today the Bucs will be rid of letdown corner Eric Wright and be in possession of a couple of free-agent cornerbacks holding barely-dry contracts.
But what cornerbacks might be targeted?
Well, draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski dives into this speculation somewhat in a full-team breakdown of the Bucs’ needs on 987TheFan.com. Pawlowski says to “keep a close eye on Derek Cox,” a corner the Jaguars could wave goodbye to.
Bottom Line: The Bucs were last in the NFL in pass defense and lacked talent and experience at corner. I feel the Bucs need at least one, and possibly two, corners in free agency to increase the talent AND the experience. Drafting a corner is also a possibility, but this draft looks deeper than it is top heavy, so it might not be a necessity to reach on a corner in the 1st round if there is not one there worth taking with the 13th pick. Keep a close eye on Derek Cox from the Jaguars as the Bucs just hired Tony Oden as their new DBs coach. Oden spent last year with the Jaguars.
Top Free Agents: Brent Grimes (ATL), Sean Smith (MIA), Cary Williams (BAL), Dominique Rogers-Cromartie (PHI), Quinton Jammer (SD), Antoine Cason (SD), Captain Munnerlyn (CAR), Derek Cox (JAX), Rashean Mathis (JAX)
Cox is an interesting case. He’s 26 and supremely talented, but the guy was injury-riddled through the past four seasons. Check out what Jags beat writer Gene Frenette wrote about him last week.
[Cox] has missed 17 games the last three years with injuries to five different body parts. Whether it’s a hamstring, knee, groin, rib or back, Cox has been one of the most brittle starters in recent memory. On the flip side, the Jaguars have no proven cover corner going into next season if they don’t re-sign Cox. Rashean Mathis, who turns 33 in August, will likely be allowed to become a free agent. Plus, it’s hard to imagine coach Gus Bradley wanting to throw nickel back Mike Harris or Kevin Rutland into a permanent starting role. Aaron Ross, a free-agent pickup last year, has underperformed. At least the Jaguars can count on a healthy Cox to hold up in coverage and occasionally make a big play.
“You got to have that trust with the player,” said [Jags head coach Gus] Bradley. “They can be really good, but if they’re always on the sideline injured, that’s tough. Now [Cox] has some traits that we’re excited about.”
So what’s the price tag on injury-prone Cox, who played 12 games last season (4 interceptions)? That’s the mystery question. He could be worth a deal as a the second corner the Bucs nab in free agency, assuming they snatch two.
February 13th, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Nah. Injury riddled CBs need not apply. If he cant stay on the field what is the point in signing him? We’d just be starting Gorrer again anyways. Talib was talented but oft injured or suspended. Wright is the same. We dont need another corner who cant stay on the field. Neeeeext!
February 13th, 2013 at 12:52 pm
So what’s Cox worth? About half of what Dominik will offer him lol. Seriously though, I really hope Dominik doesn’t give top money to an average CB again just to make a splash.
February 13th, 2013 at 12:54 pm
I pass, he is to fragile.
February 13th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
I don’t think the Bucs will be as quick to part with Eric Wright as one might think. It should depend on how healthy Wright is when he reports to OTA’s. He can play well when he isn’t nagged with injuries (back). But if he is fully healed and the Bucs feel he can stay that way, they will likely stand by him. I don’t think their are many free agent upgrades to a healthy Wright. Grimes is better if he is fully recovered, and I can see Dom going for Grimes or one of the other FA’s but not 2. I think Wright will remain Buc ultimately, then they pick up a couple more in the mid rounds of the draft. I believe Leonard Johnson will improve and keep a spot on the roster. I am hopeful the Bucs draft Bacarri Rambo for a safety to pair with Barron, thinking 2’nd round. !’st round pick should be a DT, DE or OT. As usual I qualify this by saying I have no effing clue, just a hunch.
February 13th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
I’d rather see them get Sean Jones and Mathis. I would also like for them to sing the Bennett brothers. As for the draft: Trade back from our 13th and get Kenny Vaccario. Then trade back up into the first round and get Xavier Rhodes! That along with resigning key players would be an awesome off season!
February 13th, 2013 at 1:03 pm
No! I don’t want anyone from a team like the Jaguars! We have way too many people on our team that are used to losing that it almost feels like it’s a part of the culture! We want to win, start with a winning mentality. Bring someone over from the steelers or the Pats or 49ers, etc… otherwise, no!
February 13th, 2013 at 1:13 pm
I dont know. Do we need more injury prone DB’s? I understand injuries are going to occur sometimes, but thats a lot for Cox. Sean Smith and Antoine Cason look good though…and what about Keenan Lewis? Injuries also have me worried about drafting Banks and Rhodes….they’ve been injury prone too. I think Trufant tweaked his hamstring once and missed half a game but that was it.
February 13th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
I’d pass.
February 13th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
If I was going after anyone on the Jags it would be Daryl Smith he is a good OLB and would be good on a 2 year deal.
February 13th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Brent Grimes
I get so excited about the possibility of him being a Buc.
He is a pro bowl type corner IMO
February 13th, 2013 at 2:09 pm
It makes one wonder why the Bucs didn’t puruse a FA CB in offseasons prior: Jonathan Joseph, Brandon Carr, and Cortland Finnegan are all notch above the current FA market.
Why didn’t we sign one or two of those guys? We had the cap space, and the need, I just don’t get it. If I had all the $$ the Glazers had, I would have signed a FA CB in the past few years.
I am extremely curious as to why we did not go after a CB in the past 2 offseasons?
February 13th, 2013 at 2:16 pm
DAshon Goldson n te red Barron equals concussion city an no matter who our corners are just play up under there jersey n sit on pick six’s all day cuz if u beat me up top u gon beat me to that sideline on that cart lol but well worth the fine to Instill that Tampa 2 fear our safeties used to produce number 1 ranked D near futures cuz u dam sure can’t run on us FACT!!!
February 13th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
@Stevek
You have repeatedly stated that we didn’t pursue other corners and have continuously brought up Finnegan’s name in your statements.
Im curious as to what you base these statements off?
The fact that they didnt sign here?
Last offseason we did make a play at Cortland and we were aggressive at that, he chose “his guy” Fisher over us and there is absolutely nothing we could have done about that.
Just because FA’s don’t sign here doesn’t mean that we did not in fact do our best to sign them.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
I think the Bucs should try to sign Sean Smith, Derek Cox, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, and Fs Dashon Goldson. Then let go the rest of them bums on our team. Real talk all these guys a upgrades to anything we have on the field. The current set of cbs can’t cover no one more that 2 seconds that’s observed.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:28 pm
It’s easy to say who we should sign, but truth of the matter we don’t know who actually will be available. I do like DRC I do like wright but at a price that’s reasonable
February 13th, 2013 at 3:30 pm
NO JAGS!! Unless its. M.Lewis TE
February 13th, 2013 at 3:31 pm
Mercedes Lewis is a bum please sir STOP!! LOL
February 13th, 2013 at 5:44 pm
I’d go with either Grimes or Jammer.
February 15th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Dashon Goldson longterm..Woodson one year DRC a few years Byrd longterm!
I cant wait to see how this unfolds.
March 10th, 2013 at 6:12 am
I want the Bucs to get big Glen Dorsey in free agency, then snag Keenan Lewis and + Derek cox . That improves your defense instantly . Then resign dallas Clark and ronde barber . Trade up take dj fluker . This gives you more picks too improve defense and gets you a champion right tackle .
Possible picks in 2-3 rounds are : poyer , ertz , brown , Rambo,Lester , swearinger , short , amerson