Report: Morris Claiborne Facing 4-Game Suspension for Substance Abuse Violation

Free-agent cornerback Morris Claiborne is facing a four-game suspension for violations of the NFL's substance-abuse policy, per Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. 

Claiborne is appealing the decision.

The 29-year-old has played seven NFL seasons: five with the Dallas Cowboys and the last two for the New York Jets. The sixth overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft has 251 tackles, 49 pass deflections and seven interceptions for his 77-game career.

Last season was arguably Claiborne's best, as he notched career-highs with 57 tackles, two picks and 14 pass deflections in 15 games.

Teams have shown interest in Claiborne pre-suspension. Per Rapoport, the Arizona Cardinals hosted the cornerback in April, and Field Yates of ESPN wrote that the New York Giants did the same.

Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reported that Claiborne also worked out for the Minnesota Vikings last Friday.

The suspension is a clear obstacle, of course, and Darryl Slater of nj.com explained what it means for Claiborne moving forward.

"Claiborne is still seemingly good and fresh enough to contribute somewhere," Slater wrote. "His looming suspension, though, isn’t helping his chances of landing with a new team—or perhaps back with the Jets, who are moving on without him."

New York will start Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts at the outside cornerback spots.

At this juncture, Claiborne's best bet may be to wait to sign until midseason, when teams could be looking for more cornerback depth due to poor performance or injury.