Orlando Scandrick has been granted his request. ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports (via Twitter) that the Cowboys will release the cornerback. Earlier this week, Scandrick had requested his release from Dallas.
Scandrick was scheduled to carry a $5.28MM cap hit in 2018. They will designate him as a post-June 1 cut, the team confirmed. By moving on from him, the Cowboys will now save $3MM as opposed to $1.4MM.
The Cowboys won’t save a whole lot of money by releasing Scandrick, but his performance last year seemingly necessitated the move. In 2017, Scandrick totaled 38 tackles and graded out as one of the ten worst qualified cornerbacks in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. Of course, the 31-year-old could have just had an off year, as he previously earned a second-team All-Pro nod in 2014.
The Cowboys nearly traded Scandrick to the Saints during the 2017 draft, but ultimately did not come to terms on a deal that would have brought safety Kenny Vaccaro to Dallas. Reports from late February indicated that the organization was looking to trade the veteran.
Scandrick’s release doesn’t necessarily impact the top of the Cowboys cornerback depth chart. The team is currently projected to start Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis, with Anthony Brown slotted in as the top reserve.