The Detroit Lions should sign cornerback Morris Claiborne
With major questions surrounding their cornerback position, the Detroit Lions should consider bringing in veteran Morris Claiborne as insurance.
As the Detroit Lions prepare to enter into their biggest offseason event, training camp, the position of cornerback is still the team’s biggest question mark. With two-time Pro Bowler Darius Slay thinking about skipping camp due to contract concerns, and longtime starter Nevin Lawson leaving in the offseason, Detroit could be in need of two starting corners this summer.
The newly signed Rashaan Melvin figures to fill one of those roles. And, perhaps, former second-rounder Teez Tabor, the other. But if the Lions’ brass wants to purchase themselves some inexpensive insurance, adding a veteran like free agent cornerback Morris Claiborne would seem prudent.
A former first-rounder, Claiborne has resurrected his career with the New York Jets. After spending five injury-plagued seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, the 29-year-old corner has started 30 games for the Jets the past two years.
Last season, Claiborne posted career-highs in tackles (57), pass defends (14), interceptions (2) and recorded his first defensive touchdown. One of those picks was against the Lions when the Jets’ came into Detroit in Week One and defeated the Pride 48-17 in new head coach Matt Patricia’s regular-season debut. So the Lions know first hand about Claiborne.
Detroit did sign Justin Coleman in the offseason to a massive four-year, $36 million contract. But the former Seattle Seahawk is a slot corner and the Lions likely wish to keep him there after their sizable investment.
Also notable on the roster is 2019 fifth-round selection Amani Oruwariye out of Penn State. Draft experts have tabbed Oruwariye as a possible steal of this draft class, but rookie corners are notorious for needing extra time to acclimate to the speed of the NFL. And hoping a fifth-rounder ascends to starter status in his first year is overly ambitious.
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With Darius Slay’s status in question and concerns about who will start opposite of him on the outside, the Detroit Lions seem to be in a position of need going into training camp. In Morris Claiborne, the Lions would purchase themselves inexpensive insurance in an area of need with a veteran cornerback possessing more than enough experience as a starter coming off his best season as a professional. This move is a no-brainer.