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5 years later, Cowboys' Claiborne proving 1st-round worth

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

It already happened.

The Dallas Cowboys had already labeled 2012 sixth-overall pick Morris Claiborne as a bust.

He was eaten alive by star receivers when he was forced into the starting lineup as a rookie and a slew of injuries coupled with poor play buried him on the depth chart. But now that the pressure is off and he's learned the ropes, Claiborne is proving his worth to the Cowboys.

Through three weeks, the LSU product has been burned by his assigned receiver the least among any NFL cornerback with at least 20 targets.

With Orlando Scandrick dealing with injuries and overpaid veteran Brandon Carr facing an obvious speed issue, Claiborne has been the Cowboys' top corner this season. While Dallas has had virtually no pass-rush this year, Claiborne has helped his unit allow the tenth-least amount of points per game through three weeks.

It may only be three weeks, but it's been the best three weeks Claiborne has played since his days at LSU, where he earned the reputation as a can't-miss first-round talent. He'll get another prime opportunity to show his stuff this weekend against the listless San Francisco 49ers.

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