Jags draft DB Derek Cox: Was he worth a 2 and a 7?

via www.jaguars.com

"You get a guy who you feel is a second-round talent. That’s why you do it," Smith said of why he made the trade.

If you don't already know, Gene Smith and company traded our 2009 7th round pick and our 2010 2nd round pick to the Patriots for their 2009 third round pick that immediately followed our 2009 third round pick. This was a move to get William and Mary DB Derek Cox. William and Mary? Is that his parents?

No, William and Mary is a small college that produced Darren Sharper, Mike Leach, and Mike Tomlin. That said, was Derek Cox worth next years second round pick? Well, he must be worth the trade for this to have a chance at this making sense as Gene Smith has never done anything that didn't make sense to me. He did mention, in an interview that I can't find, that he knew the criticism would come when they picked Cox, just as criticism came when they picked DB Rashean Mathis. Mathis was a small-school player that wasn't regarded to be drafted as high as he was, but Smith knew he had talent, that he represented value and Smith made sure to collect value-this is the point of the draft.

These FCS, or Division I-AA, players tend to flourish in Jacksonville. Off the top of my head, I can name starting cornerback Rashean Mathis, a Pro Bowler, and starting weak-side linebacker Justin Durant. These are two defensive starters that were drafted in the second round, which is what we spent on Cox. The Jaguars can scout these small-school guys, the problem has always been who they pick. Will Derek Cox be the right starting cornerback? I can't say. I do know that he stands 6'1" and weighs 180 pounds. These are great paper measurables, so we have that going for us. But let's not forget what only paper measurables mean.....Matt Jones. Cox, however, has great character going for him, which is one of the stamps of the new "Gene Smith Era".

Jaguars.com had the following to say about Cox off the field:

"Derek Cox brings a lot more to Jacksonville than just his football accomplishments. Cox played under head coach Jimmye Laycock at William & Mary and was one of only four players in the coach’s 30-year tenure to be named team captain for two seasons. Cox was elected as the Student Athletics Advisory Council (SAAC) President for the 2008-09 athletics year and was presented the 2008 Leadership Award by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. In addition, he was part of the gospel choir at William & Mary and the group performed at local churches and different campuses around the area. "

I recommend that we all sit back and trust Gene until he proves himself to be an inadequate GM. However, the best GM's miss picks, but this will not be written off if missed. The move to get the pick was a big deal and affects not only this draft, but next years as well. This move was purposeful, with vision in mind and that alone makes it feel better. He was special and they wanted him because he could change our defense, for the better.

"Judge him when he gets here," Smith said.

We will Gene, and I hope you prove yourself. I genuinely do.

-Brandon Clark