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Photo of Morris Claiborne
Grade
91.5 ?
  • 4.50 SEC
    Top Performer
  • 34.5 INCH
    Top Performer
  • 118.0 INCH
    Top Performer
  • 7.01 SEC
    Top Performer
  • 4.12 SEC
    Top Performer
  • 11.44 SEC
    Top Performer
  • 5'11" Height
  • 33 1/4" Arm Length
  • 188LBS. Weight
  • 8 1/2" Hands

Overview

The Jim Thorpe award winner as the country's premier defensive back as a junior opted to forgo his senior year to enter the draft after displaying elite ability during the 2011 season. He is huge for the position and has track speed. A very explosive athlete, Claiborne should easily pressure for a starting role early on in training camp. He covered top talent in the SEC and is as polished as corners come in this year's draft. He has first-round value and shouldn't last long.

Analysis

Strengths

Claiborne is an aggressive cover man who likes to use his tall frame and long arms to get up in the face of receivers and shock them at the line of scrimmage to disrupt timing. When he punches, he doesn't just get his hands there, he makes his presence felt. He can run with his back to the ball at the receiver's hip using a press/bail technique and looks natural running with his man in-phase while still keeping an eye towards the ball. Claiborne is such a gifted athlete with uncommon body control that he runs with his man fluidly up and down the field while still keeping the wherewithal to break off at any time and get involved in plays coming across him. As a zone defender, he is simply an explosive athlete with length and can keep plays in front of him and react quick enough to meet the man at the ball. He is physical in run support and will have no problem coming up to tackle from the edge.

Weaknesses

Claiborne is such a gifted athlete that he can often times get lazy in his technique. Working in off-man coverage, he has a tendency to get his pad level high in his back pedal and delude the explosiveness that makes him so effective out of his breaks.
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Grade Title Draft (Round) Description
96-100 Future Hall of Famer Top Pick A once-in-a-generation type prospect who could change how his position is played
85-95 Immediate Starter 1st An impact player with the ability/intangibles to become a Pro Bowl player. Expect to start immediately except in a unique situation (i.e. behind a veteran starter).
70-84 Eventual Starter 2nd-3rd A quality player who will contribute to the team early on and is expected to develop into a starter. A reliable player who brings value to the position.
50-69 Draftable Player 4th-7th A prospect with the ability to make team as a backup/role player. Needs to be a special teams contributor at applicable positions. Players in the high range of this category might have long-term potential.
20-49 Free Agent UDFA A player with solid measurables, intangibles, college achievements, or a developing skill that warrants an opportunity in an NFL camp. In the right situation, he could earn a place on a 53-man roster, but most likely will be a practice squad player or a camp body.

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