Dallas Cowboys: Is Orlando Scandrick done in Big D?
Dallas Cowboys veteran cornerback Orlando Scandrick survived the youth movement in the defensive secondary last year. But what about this offseason?
A year ago, the Dallas Cowboys secondary was stock full of veteran defenders. Then free agency came around, then the NFL Draft, and suddenly that part of the roster looked unrecognizable.
Gone were longtime Cowboys like safeties Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox. Starting cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne had both left for the greener pastures of free agency with other NFL franchises. And in their place were rookies like safety Xavier Woods, and corners Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis.
The Cowboys had a full-on youth movement at the cornerback position. But one name remained. It was veteran 30-year old Orlando Scandrick. Although there was a report that the Cowboys had Scandrick on the trading block during last year’s draft, nothing ever materialized.
Eventually, Scandrick was elected a team captain for the first time in his now ten-year career, as he seemed to be chosen to help usher in the team’s newest members.
A year older and wiser now, the youth revolution in Dallas’ defensive secondary is at full tilt. Awuzie and Lewis finished the season as the team’s starters at corner. Second-year cornerback Anthony Brown provided quality depth and should compete for a starting spot himself this offseason. Even safety Xavier Woods spent some time in the slot for the Cowboys his rookie season. It appears the Cowboys’ secondary is set.
Now throw in the fact there has been some speculation that safety Byron Jones could return to corner, a position the former first rounder played during his rookie season. Plus, the Cowboys also just hired former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard as their new defensive backs coach. The man who led the Legion of Boom now resides in Dallas.
With all of these changes, where does Scandrick fit in? The truth of the matter is, he might not.
Scandrick is coming off yet another down season in Dallas. The aging corner failed to record a single interception in 2017, posting 32 tackles and three pass defends (lowest of his career) in an injury-plagued 11 games. The fact is, Scandrick hasn’t been the same player since a devastating knee injury forced him to miss the entire 2015 season.
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Under contract for the next two seasons, Scandrick is scheduled to make $3 million in 2018. That amount will go up to $4 million the following season. The writing appears to be on the wall.
Due to his salary, injuries and declining play, it appears that Orlando Scandrick’s time in Dallas may be coming to an end.