Cowboys Not Expected To Pick Up CB Morris Claiborne’s Fifth-Year Option

According to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys do not intend to pick CB Morris Claiborne‘s fifth-year option.

Instead, the Cowboys are expected to allow Claiborne to play out the final year of his rookie contract before considering the idea of signing him to an extension.

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given how much Claiborne has struggled since the Cowboys trade up to No. 6 overall back in 2012 for the right to select him.

Earlier in the offseason, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones surprisingly mentioned that Claiborne has done enough for them to justify them picking up his fifth-year option, per George.

However, doing so would run the Cowboys $11.082 million for the 2016 season, even though this figure is guaranteed only for injury.

Claiborne, 25, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and stands to make a base salary of $2,607,887 for the 2015 season.

His year came to an end after he suffered a knee injury and was later placed on season-ending injured reserve.

In 2014, Claiborne record seven tackles, one interception and two pass defenses over the course of four games. Pro Football Focus has him down for playing 151 total snaps to go along with poor rating in pass coverage and as a run-defender.

Here’s our 2016 Fifth-Year Option Tracker in case you want to catch up on the latest regarding the 2012 NFL draft class.