Cowboys decision to pick up option on Claiborne won’t be an easy one

[Jon88]

By David Moore
dmoore@dallasnews.com
10:29 am on April 23, 2014 | Permalink

It was a foregone conclusion that the Cowboys would pick up the option on Tyron Smith’s rookie contract.


Can the same be said one year from now when the club faces that decision with Morris Claiborne?

Smith should anchor the Cowboys offensive line for the remainder of the decade. The left tackle has Pro Bowl talent and a drive to be recognized as one of the best when his career is done. The club isn’t about to let him get away.

Claiborne is more problematic. He took a step back in his second season and lost his starting job to Orlando Scandrick. Injuries in each of his first two seasons have hindered his development.

Claiborne isn’t as bad as some critics claim. But he has not lived up to the expectations that go with being the sixth player taken in the draft. A Cowboys team that gave up a second round pick in order to move up and select Claiborne needs more than two interceptions in two seasons to justify the move.

If the club picks up the option for a fifth season it must do so one year from now. The transition tag applies since Claiborne was taken in the top 10. The current figure for the cornerback position is $10.081 million and will go up.

That’s an exorbitant amount given Claiborne’s current level of performance.

Claiborne is currently under contract to the Cowboys through the 2015 season. But if his play doesn’t improve significantly this season, the Cowboys are faced with a difficult decision on a young player.

A decision much more difficult than the one they faced with Tyron Smith.

 

[cmd34(work)]

If he doesn't turn it around this year, not only will he not get the option picked up, I see them cutting or trading him.


Great pick Jerry.

 

[dbair1967]

It will be an easy one. He plasy good this yr, option picked up. he doesn't play good this yr, he'll be gone.

 

[dbair1967]

If he doesn't turn it around this year, not only will he not get the option picked up, I see them cutting or trading him.


Great pick Jerry.

I know this is your way, but I also know you know the draft stuff better than this. The guy was a consensus top 5-6 pick, and most had him as the best defensive player in the draft. Jerry is an idiot but he would hardly be the only guy in the room who had Claiborne rated extremely high.

 

[cmd34(work)]

I know this is your way, but I also know you know the draft stuff better than this. The guy was a consensus top 5-6 pick, and most had him as the best defensive player in the draft. Jerry is an idiot but he would hardly be the only guy in the room who had Claiborne rated extremely high.

Some things to avoid in the future:

• Trading away 2 high picks for anyone when your 53-man roster has so many holes.
• Drafting a player 6th overall that you have never spoken to.
• When a team who also needs that position willingly trades away from that player.

Again, great decision Jerry.

 

[dbair1967]

Some things to avoid in the future:

• Trading away 2 high picks for anyone when your 53-man roster has so many holes.
• Drafting a player 6th overall that you have never spoken to.
• When a team who also needs that position willingly trades away from that player.

Again, great decision Jerry.

A couple of those are pretty ignorant, and one of them I'm pretty sure you have no idea about.

 

[CobraKai]

If only we had kept Jenkins and stayed put. Come on Mo.

 

[dbair1967]

If only we had kept Jenkins and stayed put. Come on Mo.

I still think Claiborne is going to pan out. I think he will be in the starting lineup opening day vs SF.

 

[cmd34(work)]

A couple of those are pretty ignorant, and one of them I'm pretty sure you have no idea about.

which one of those isn't accurate?

 

[dbair1967]

which one of those isn't accurate?

Take a guess CMDstile

 

[Jon88]

I also wouldn't take anyone with a top 10 pick if they scored a 4 on the Wonderlic, much less trade my 2nd rounder too.

 

[dbair1967]

I also wouldn't take anyone with a top 10 pick if they scored a 4 on the Wonderlic, much less trade my 2nd rounder too.

Wonderlic= joke

Quincy Carter scores higher than Dan Marino, Troy Aikman and Payton Manning

All that ever needs to be said about it.

 

[Jon88]

Aikman is smart, but Dan Marino is a dumb ass.

 

[dbair1967]

Aikman is smart, but Dan Marino is a dumb ass.

And Q Bong is dumb as a fucking cabbage.

That was my point, the Wonderlic is a joke.

 

[jnday]

I still think Claiborne is going to pan out. I think he will be in the starting lineup opening day vs SF.

He can start and still be a bust. He just stinks less than the other turds on the roster. That doesn't make him a decent player.

 

[peplaw06]

I'm not as pissed about the pick as I am about changing schemes to go away from what few strengths we had seen in his game.

 

[dbair1967]

He can start and still be a bust. He just stinks less than the other turds on the roster. That doesn't make him a decent player.

That was not the message I was trying to convey

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't see why Claiborne is a bad fit in a zone scheme. He played the ball much like a receiver in college.

I think the scheme isn't the problem.

 

[dbair1967]

I don't see why Claiborne is a bad fit in a zone scheme. He played the ball much like a receiver in college.

I think the scheme isn't the problem.

The lack of a consistent pass rush is the big problem.

 

[peplaw06]

He played the ball like a WR in college because he was playing man and was able to outplay the guy he was covering for the ball. Having him drop into a zone requires him to think more.