The Cowboys pulled off a stunner when they traded up in the draft to select LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne sixth overall on Thursday. Not only was it a surprise because they traded two picks (No. 14 and 45 overall) to move up eight spots, but also because they had so little contact with Claiborne prior to the draft.
SI’s Peter King summed up how much of a shocker this was:
Before 8:30 Eastern tonight, the Cowboys had no contact with Morris Claiborne in 2012. Not a call, not a visit, not a letter. Nothing.
— Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) April 27, 2012
Because they had no contact, King says Claiborne thought it was a crank caller when Jerry Jones called to inform him the Cowboys were drafting him.
“I was shocked the Cowboys took me,” Claiborne said, per Gregg Rosenthal. “They didn’t even talk to me.”
The selection was a pleasant surprise for Claiborne who grew up in a family full of Cowboys fans.
Dallas has addressed its weak secondary by signing Brandon Carr in free agency and moving up to take Claiborne, whom they had second on their draft board. Their defense should be greatly improved next season, which will be crucial playing in a tough division full of good passing attacks.
Photo Credit: James Lang-US PRESSWIRE
