Sources: Dallas Cowboys bring back CB Morris Claiborne on a 1-year, $3.75 million deal
By David Moore , Staff Writer Contact David Moore on Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN
Morris Claiborne has agreed to return to the Cowboys on a one-year contract, sources said.
Free agency opened on Wednesday, and the cornerback is the fifth of the Cowboys own free agents the club has re-signed. He joins linebackers Rolando McClain and Kyle Wilber, cornerback Josh Thomas and offensive tackle Charles Brown.
Claiborne's one-year deal has a base value of $3 million and he has the opportunity to earn up to $3.75 million, according to one source. That's far less than what the Cowboys would have had to pay Claiborne for the 2016 season if they had picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. Last May, the Cowboys declined to pick up Claiborne's 2016 fifth-year option that would have required them to pay Claiborne $11.08 million.
The Cowboys have also signed defensive tackle Cedric Thornton, who played Philadelphia the last five seasons.
Claiborne continued to miss times because of injury last season with the Cowboys, sitting out five games. He didn't have an interception in his 11 games started but added 42 tackles and ranked second on the team with nine pass breakups.
Claiborne, the Cowboys' sixth overall pick in 2012, hasn't been able to stay healthy throughout his four years in Dallas. He missed 26 games over his four seasons with the Cowboys because of injuries. When he's played, he hasn't provided much impact.
Claiborne, 26, has three career interceptions. The club declined to pick up his fifth-year option heading into the '16 season but he showed enough last year for the club to want him back.