Morris Claiborne will be back in a New York Jets uniform for the 2018 season.
The team is signing the 28-year-old cornerback to a one-year, $7 million deal according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It marks the second straight year Claiborne has inked a contract for a single season with Gang Green.
The #Jets are re-signing CB Mo Claiborne on a 1-year deal, sources say. He’ll make $7M. A one-year deal last year pays off for both sides as NYJ solidifies its D
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2018
New York Jets Re-Sign Cornerback Morris Claiborne to One-Year Deal
Coming out of LSU, Claiborne had high expectations to be an elite corner in the NFL because previous LSU defensive backs have had great success at the next level. But multiple injuries have kept Claiborne off the field and have derailed the former first-round pick’s career.
Last off-season, Claiborne signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets betting on himself to have a productive season. In 2017, Claiborne recorded 43 tackles, eight pass deflections and one interception in 15 starts as a member of the Jets. The 15 games played was the most games Claiborne has played in since his rookie year in 2012.
Claiborne injured his foot halfway through the season which forced him to miss one game and did not look the same the rest of the season. Pro Football Focus gave Claiborne a grade of 48.5 in 2017, which ranked 100th out of all NFL cornerbacks.
Claiborne spent his first five seasons as a member of the Dallas Cowboys and had a promising rookie campaign in 2012 in which he tallied 55 tackles, eight pass deflections, one interception, one forced fumble and one defensive touchdown in 15 starts.
The next four season, however, Claiborne only played a total of 32 games (out of 64) due to numerous injuries including a season-ending torn left patellar tendon in 2014. Claiborne bounced back from injury to play 11 games in 2015 before a hamstring injury forced him to miss much of the tail end of the season.
Claiborne re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year deal for the 2016 season which ended after seven games due to a groin injury that forced him to miss the rest of the season. In his career, Claiborne has recorded 194 tackles, 34 pass deflections, ions and 5 interceptions.
Before he was drafted sixth overall by the Cowboys in 2012, Claiborne played three seasons at LSU alongside familiar names Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu and Eric Reid to name a few. Claiborne finished with 11 interceptions in his collegiate career and was named SEC defensive player of the year and first-team All-American in 2011.
