The Cowboys have decided not to pick up their 2016 option for cornerback Morris Claiborne, according to David Helman of DallasCowboys.com. The decision comes on the heels of the team drafting defensive back Byron Jones with its first-round pick on Thursday.
Claiborne, 25, saw his 2014 campaign cut short by a torn patellar tendon, and was able to play only four games for the Cowboys, bringing his three-year total to just 29 contests. When he has been able to see the field, Claiborne has been shaky — according to Pro Football Focus’ data, opposing quarterbacks have accumulated passer ratings of 107.8 (2012), 94.3 (2013), and 121.5 (2014) when throwing into Claiborne’s coverage.
While the Cowboys are unwilling to commit to an $11.082MM 2016 salary for Clairborne, he’ll be on the team’s cap for a hit of $5.175MM in 2015. Taking into account Brandon Carr‘s $12.717MM cap number, that’s a lot of cap room committed to two players at a position where Jones and Orlando Scandrick may be the long-term answers.