ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Chiefs' pursuit to upgrade their secondary continues, with the club reaching terms Thursday on a one-year deal with veteran free agent cornerback Morris Claiborne.
Claiborne won't provide an immediate boost, however. The NFL confirmed on Monday Claiborne received a four-game suspension for violation of the league's substance abuse policy. His appeal was reportedly denied. The club has not announced a corresponding roster move to make space for Claiborne, and don't need to until he passes his physical and officially signs with the club, perhaps as early as Friday. Morris would be allowed to practice with the club and play in preseason games until his suspension begins in Week 1.
Incentives could make the deal worth more than $1.5 million this year, a source confirmed to Chiefs Digest.
The addition of Claiborne speaks to the club's concerns about its cornerback depth. The Chiefs entered training camp with veteran Kendal Fuller moving to the slot full time and second-year corner Charvarius Ward and veteran free agent Bashaud Breeland on the outside. D'Montre Wade, who spent last season on the practice squad, has ranked fourth on the depth chart with rookies Rashad Fenton and Herb Miller rounding out the second-team group.
Claiborne is a seven-year NFL veteran who spent the past two seasons with the New York Jets, where he played 15 games with 57 total tackles, two interceptions and 14 passes broken up in 2018. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft began his career with the Dallas Cowboys, where he played 47 games in five seasons with four interceptions and 27 passes defended.
Injuries have plagued Claiborne, and he's never played a full 16 game season. A dislocated shoulder and a hamstring injury limited him to 10 games in 2013, and he finished the 2014 season on injured reserve after rupturing his patellar tendon in Week 4. Another hamstring injury and an ankle sprain cost him five games in 2015. A groin injury knocked him out of nine games in 201
The Chiefs also signed free agent defensive lineman Hunter Dimick, an undrafted 2018 free agent from Utah who spent time with both Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.
The club cleared space for Dimick by placing cornerback Keith Reaser on injured reserve. Reaser suffered a season-ending Achilles injury earlier in camp.
