As the Jets get close to training camp, I am going to examine the roster and give you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.

No. 15: Morris Claiborne

Last year’s ranking: 8

Position: CB

Age: 28

How acquired: Signed as a free agent to a one-year, $5 million contract on March 18, 2017

Years left on contract: 1

2018 Salary Cap figure: $7 million

Looking back at 2017: Claiborne joined the Jets last year after spending the beginning of his career with the Cowboys. He was the Jets’ No. 1 cornerback last year and was asked to cover the other team’s top wide receiver in most games.

Injuries have been an issue throughout Claiborne’s career, but he only missed one full game due to a foot sprain last year. The foot clearly affected him in other games and limited him, though.

I thought Claiborne played fairly well last year just from watching him. No one was comparing him to Deion Sanders in his prime, but I thought Claiborne was an upgrade over what the Jets had the year before.

The guys at Pro Football Focus did not agree. They had him ranked 87th out of 120 cornerbacks they graded, and he was 106th in coverage. They also graded him in “shadow coverage,” which is when he followed one specific receiver. He gave up a 93.2 passer rating in those situation, the second worst in the NFL.

I don’t always agree with PFF, and this is one instance where I think they were overly harsh on Claiborne. Sometimes it is tough to know assignments in the secondary. I think Claiborne was better than their grade.

That being said, one issue that was undeniable for Claiborne was penalties. He was flagged 10 times (three were declined), the second most on the team. He got called for holding six times and pass interference three times. It’s hard to win when you are giving up that many yards in penalties.

Outlook for 2018: The Jets re-signed Claiborne to another one-year deal this offseason, showing they liked what they saw from him last year. With the arrival of Trumaine Johnson, Claiborne will slide into the No. 2 cornerback role. That should give the Jets a good 1-2 combination.

Claiborne was hampered this spring by a bruised hand that sidelined him. He had a soft cast/wrap on his left hand and wrist. We will see how that heals up for training camp.

One interesting development before Claiborne was injured was how much time Buster Skrine was getting on the outside with the base defense instead of Claiborne. It could be a case of having a competition in training camp for the spot in the base defense.

It will be an interesting camp situation to watch.