4 Free agents Dallas Cowboys can sign to save their season

3. Morris Claiborne, Cornerback

We stick with the trend of bringing back former players. Not only did the Cowboys re-sign Brandon Carr, but we looked at Ron Leary as well as a potential addition. So why not keep it going and land former No. 1 pick Morris Claiborne.

Like Carr, the mere mention of Claiborne’s name will be an immediate fire-starter. There are plenty in the fan base still angry about how terrible things went after seeing the promise Carr and Claiborne brought to the team in 2012. Having said that, it clearly wasn’t the fault of either player.

Carr left Dallas and looked much better with the Baltimore Ravens. The same was true of Claiborne, who spent two seasons with the New York Jets before winning a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. This doesn’t mean Claiborne wasn’t a bad pick for Dallas, but just that he does have some talent and can perform when put on the field.

Instead, his question has been centered around durability. Claiborne couldn’t stay on the field at all for Dallas, which stunted his growth. That played a large part in him being a bust, as did the team’s decision to move him and Carr — both man corners — into a zone scheme.

And while he never lived up to his draft status, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to bring him back now. Not only would he be affordable, but the Cowboys secondary is an absolute mess, especially with the injuries to Chidobe Awuzie and Anthony Brown.

Claiborne wouldn’t be a long-term solution but he could be an affordable one-year rental that could help their secondary at least be decent.