Cowboys Trade Up For Claiborne
By: Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com
Updated: April 26, 2012
IRVING, Texas -Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has notoriously been one who has moved down to collect picks in past drafts.
But he went the other way here in the early part of the 2012 draft, moving up eight spots to No. 6 to take LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.
To get the pick, the Cowboys sent the Rams their 14th overall pick and the 45th pick in the second round. If it stands pat, the Cowboys won't have another pick until Friday night when they draft in the third round (81st overall).
Claiborne (6-0, 190) is the first defensive back taken off the board and should be an instant starter or at least major contributor despite the Cowboys already having Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick and newly-acquired free agent Brandon Carr.
The Cowboys released Terence Newman back in March, seemingly to make room for Carr, who signed a five-year, $50.1 million contract. But it now it appears Claiborne could slide into the top spot. He becomes not only the first defensive player taken in this draft, but the highest cornerback, or any player for that matter, the Cowboys have drafted since Newman, who went fifth overall in 2003.
Claiborne is also one of the top kick and punt returners in the draft.
But he went the other way here in the early part of the 2012 draft, moving up eight spots to No. 6 to take LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.
To get the pick, the Cowboys sent the Rams their 14th overall pick and the 45th pick in the second round. If it stands pat, the Cowboys won't have another pick until Friday night when they draft in the third round (81st overall).
Claiborne (6-0, 190) is the first defensive back taken off the board and should be an instant starter or at least major contributor despite the Cowboys already having Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick and newly-acquired free agent Brandon Carr.
The Cowboys released Terence Newman back in March, seemingly to make room for Carr, who signed a five-year, $50.1 million contract. But it now it appears Claiborne could slide into the top spot. He becomes not only the first defensive player taken in this draft, but the highest cornerback, or any player for that matter, the Cowboys have drafted since Newman, who went fifth overall in 2003.
Claiborne is also one of the top kick and punt returners in the draft.
