Jacksonville paid pick No. 232 and a 2010 second-rounder to…
Jacksonville paid pick No. 232 and a 2010 second-rounder to move up for cornerback Derek Cox at No. 73. Cox became a four-year starter and intercepted 12 passes for the Jaguars, so Jacksonville received solid value. New England selected Julian Edelman at No. 232 and later used the future second-rounder in the move that produced Rob Gronkowski, giving the Patriots a historically superior return.
Jacksonville Jaguars Received
- pick 2009 3rd round pick (73rd overall, Derek Cox )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2009 7th round pick (232nd overall, Julian Edelman)
- pick 2010 2nd round pick (44th overall subsequently traded, Lamarr Houston )
Trade Analysis
Why Jacksonville Moved Up
The Jaguars traded pick No. 232 and their 2010 second-round choice to New England for the 73rd pick in 2009. Jacksonville selected William & Mary cornerback Derek Cox, an aggressive move for a player the club believed could start immediately.
What Derek Cox Gave Jacksonville
Cox justified much of the Jaguars' confidence. He started 13 games as a rookie and became a regular starter across four Jacksonville seasons. He intercepted 12 passes for the Jaguars, including four as a rookie and four in 2012. That is strong third-round production and explains why Jacksonville still deserves a good grade despite the ultimate value of the assets it surrendered.
How New England's Return Exploded
The seventh-round pick became Julian Edelman, who developed from a college quarterback into a foundational Patriots receiver and returner. The 2010 second-rounder became No. 44. New England later packaged No. 44 with a sixth-round pick to move to No. 42, where it selected Rob Gronkowski. That means the original Jacksonville asset directly helped create two defining players of New England's championship era.
Why This Trade Still Matters
This is a rare case where the team trading up found a legitimately good starter and still lost decisively. Jacksonville did not miss on Cox; New England simply extracted historic value from the picks received.
Final Verdict
New England Patriots Win. The Patriots earn an A+ because Edelman and the Gronkowski trade chain dwarf ordinary draft value. Jacksonville receives a B because Cox was a real four-year starter, keeping the Jaguars from being treated as a failed side of the deal.