Five Dallas Cowboys Free Agents: Keep or Let Walk?
Morris Claiborne, Cornerback
Age: 26 – 2016 Cap Hit: $2,687,500
Heading back to the secondary, Morris Claiborne put together by far the most impressive season of his career. Drafted 6th overall in the 2012 NFL draft, he clocks in as the highest player on this list drafted by the Cowboys.
Claiborne has worn the “bust” label throughout his 5 seasons in the league, but appeared to shed it with a good showing in 2016. While he’s shown that he can perform, he’s yet to prove that he can stay on the field for a full season, missing 9 games this season.
At times this season, Claiborne was the best player in the Cowboys secondary. He looked well on his way to a breakout season before a groin injury derailed his 2016 campaign. When he came back in the postseason against the Green Bay Packers, he looked like a rookie again. He was constantly beat in coverage and was caught holding in many of the plays where he wasn’t beat.
Last offseason, the Cowboys front office signed Claiborne to a one year “prove it” type of deal. That was a smart move on the team’s part, as they’ve seen enough of Claiborne in Dallas and have no long-term ties to him.
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Unless he wants to come back on a dirt cheap deal to bet on himself again, he likely will not be a Dallas Cowboy once the new league year begins.