The case for Cowboys’ cornerback Morris Claiborne in defense of being a draft bust is nonexistent. The oft-injured DB out of LSU has simply not lived up to his 2012 draft pick (sixth overall); which included a trade with the Rams wherein Dallas gave up both its first and second rounders (14th and 45th) to land his services.

Entering his fifth year in the NFL, Claiborne has given the Cowboys a total of three interceptions, one forced fumble and 21 passes deflected while being unavailable 43.07% of his career (28 of a possible 64 games).

He took a noticeable turn in the right direction in 2015, although still goose-egged the interception column; but did make strides in his coverage skills overall as well as his health, playing in 11 of 16 games (the most since his rookie year).

This glimmer of hope led the Cowboys to re-sign Claiborne to a one-year deal; but not before they let him test the free agency market to ensure they didn’t overpay.

And it looks like the Vikings came a’calling, according to reports.

Prior to Morris Claiborne re-signing with the Cowboys, the Vikings were among the “handful of teams” that showed interest in the fifth-year cornerback, Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports . A week after Claiborne re-upped with Dallas for one year and $3MM, the Vikings re-signed Terence Newman before selecting Mackensie Alexander in the second round a month later. Given the deal Claiborne ended up signing, it’s unlikely the now-cornerback-rich Vikings were offering much for his services.

Claiborne had always publicly maintained he wanted to remain in a Cowboys’ uniform and after free agency wasn’t as welcoming as he had hoped, he got his wish. Dallas now awaits its wish to be fulfilled in having a sixth overall pick play somewhere in the vicinity of the pick’s value.

Being ranked recently as a “replacement-level starter”, Claiborne has now bulked up and his offseason commitment has defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli sold on this being his breakout year.

He’d miss some practice time due to a tweaked hamstring, however, which does make some nervous considering his injury history (particularly previous hamstring issues).

If Claiborne really wants to repay the Cowboys for the risk they took in drafting him and set himself up for a true payday in 2017, now is the time to deliver.