Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Derek Cox isn't answer at CB for Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens signed journeyman cornerback Derek Cox on Wednesday, a move that does little to solve their issues at that position.

Cox brings more experience than backups Asa Jackson and Chykie Brown. He has 56 starts in five seasons.

And Cox is an upgrade over the likes of veteran Dominique Franks. He's 27 and a former third-round pick.

But nobody should think the Ravens have adequately addressed cornerback, the biggest weakness on the team. Based on Cox's recent track record, it's a risk for the Ravens to go with him as their No. 3 corner, just as it would be to stick an inexperienced Jackson or Brown there. The Ravens would really be in trouble if one of their injured starters (Lardarius Webb or Jimmy Smith) isn't ready for the regular season and they have to put Cox with the first-team defense.

This is Cox's fourth team in two years. He was previously with the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers and Minnesota Vikings.

Cox signed a four-year, $19.8 million contract with the Chargers in 2013, and he was gone in a year. One of the biggest busts in free agency that year, he couldn't keep the starting job for the entire season and finished as the 106th-rated corner by Pro Football Focux.

He then went to the Vikings in March and he couldn't make it past the first round of cuts. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the 32nd-best corner in the preseason.

This is another one of the Ravens' no-risk additions. Cox is still young and he signed for the minimum ($730,000). When he played for the Jaguars (2009-12), he showed flashes of being a No. 1 corner, which is why he earned a big pay day from San Diego.

Still, there's a reason why Cox was let go by the Chargers and the Vikings in a five-month span. The Ravens might have improved, but they haven't improved enough.

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