The Patriots have signed cornerback Derek Cox to a contract, the team announced today in a press release. Terms of the deal were not released, but I’d be surprised if it’s anything more than a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract.
Cox, 28, spent his first four seasons with the Jaguars before playing with the Chargers in 2013. He spent time with the Vikings and Ravens in 2014, but was released before the regular season began. Cox’s best season was his rookie year in 2009, when he finished with 72 tackles, four interceptions and 11 passes defended.
In New England, Cox figures to get a chance to compete for a roster spot and playing time at a cornerback position that has been totally revamped this offseason. Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner were the most notable departures, but the Pats also parted ways with Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard. Logan Ryan, Bradley Fletcher, and Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler are a few names that figure to be at or near the top of New England’s depth chart in 2015.
Interestingly, Cox was drafted with the 73rd overall pick in 2009, a selection that initially belonged to the Patriots. New England sent that pick to Jacksonville in exchange for a 2010 second-round pick and the 2009 seventh-rounder that the Pats used to take Julian Edelman. The following year, the Pats moved up a couple spots in the second round using that Jags pick (along with a sixth-rounder) to draft Rob Gronkowski.