"It's just been a lot of things that have happened where you ask yourself where that came from," Claiborne said. "Even though you felt like you've done everything in your power to be ready for the upcoming season and stay healthy, you just have things that happen to you."

The LSU product believes he played his best ball last year in large part because of his newly regimented offseason workouts with a trainer who took him to "a whole new level of being pro-ready." In seven games in 2016, the 5'11", 192-pounder registered five pass defenses and one interception. Unofficially, according to Pro Football Focus he allowed a 63.0 paser rating while limiting opposing receivers to a 51.9% catch rate, which ranked ninth and 11th respectively among NFL corners.

Outside of the training staff, Claiborne signed with the Green & White because of his fit in Bowles' scheme as a press corner.