The Dallas Cowboys’ decision to exercise their fifth-year option on the rookie contract of left tackle Tyron Smith last week, it was a no-brainer. When the team is faced with the fifth-year option on cornerback Morris Claiborne a year from now, the decision won’t likely be quite as easy.
The Dallas Morning News’s David Moore points out today that Claiborne has struggled with consistency and health over his first two seasons in the league (though those issues go hand in hand) and, last year, he lost his starting job to Orlando Scandrick.
Which is to say, Claiborne hasn’t played up to the expectations that are inevitable when a high-profile team like the Cowboys trades up to select you with the No. 6 overall pick.
That said, Claiborne hasn’t been altogether bad. He’s shown flashes of brilliance in his first two seasons, but flashes is all they’ve been. So does the good, combined with his potential upside, outweigh the bad?
The good news for Dallas is, they have another year to make that assessment.
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