The Dallas Cowboys have decided not to pick up the firth year option on Morris Claiborne and a trade with the cornerback could be an option for Jerry Jones, as the team took Bryon Jones with their first round draft pick this year and this comes as the team could consider signing someone like Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson or Knowshon Moreno as a veteran running back after not drafting anyone at the position.
The Cowboys took UConn cornerback Byron Jones with their first round selection this year and that looked like a sign that the team would not pick up Claiborne's contract. That prediction came to fruition, as ESPN Dallas reporter Todd Archer writes that the team declined the fifth year option for Claiborne this week. Claiborne has been up and down in his career with the Cowboys and he has also dealt with injuries.
Last season Claiborne missed all but four games and the previous year he played in just 10 games due to a hamstring injury. The option for the fifth year for Claiborne was at over $10 million and that was simply too much for the Cowboys to take on. Claiborne has just three interceptions in three seasons with the Cowboys and he has missed time in each of his years with the team. Jones is considered an option to start right away and the trade talk with Claiborne likely will come up again after it came up last offseason due to his disappointing play.
The Cowboys came into the draft looking for depth at a number of positions and with Demarco Murray leaving, many felt the team would go after a running back. The team opted not to do that and now they have Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar and Ryan Williams as options behind the presumptive starter in Darren McFadden.
Jason Garrett said that the team was comfortable with the players they have and one reason is likely the revamped offensive line that helped Murray rush for over 1800 yards last season. ESPN Dallas writes that the team could add a veteran during the summer, with names like Steven Jackson and Knowshon Moreno as options.
The team went against the grain (like they did last year by NOT picking Johnny Manziel) and they picked solid options up and down the board that should give the team strong depth moving forward. Randy Gregory was the second round pick, while Chaz Green, Damien Wilson, Ryan Russell, Mark Nzeocha, Laurence Gibson and Geoff Swaim were the other selections. The team could have taken a number of other running backs, including Jay Ajayi, Tevin Coleman, Duke Johnson and Ameer Abdullah.
Jones is considered a very good cornerback, while Gregory, despite his off the field issues, is a great talent, Gregory slipped into the second round after being a potential top 10 pick and that value was just too much for the Cowboys to pass up. Last season the team was one of the worst at rushing the passer and now they get the chance to put Gregory and Greg Hardy (eventually) on the line together.