Orlando Scandrick

Scandrick was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.[6] The team traded their fifth (#155-Thomas Williams) and seventh round (#213-Chauncey Washington) draft picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars, in order to move up in the fifth round and draft him. Scandrick was the 25th cornerback selected in 2008.

On July 19, 2008, the Dallas Cowboys signed Scandrick to a four-year, $1.79 million contract.[7] Throughout training camp, he competed against Evan Oglesby, Alan Ball, and Quincy Butler for job as the dime cornerback or for a role on special teams.[8] Head coach Wade Phillips named Scandrick the third cornerback and starting nickelback to start the regular season, behind Anthony Henry and Mike Jenkins. Adam Jones began the season with a six-game suspension and veteran Terence Newman missed multiple games due to a groin injury.

In 2011, Scandrick signed a six-year contract with the Cowboys worth $28.2 million and $10 million in guarantees. In 2013, he passed Morris Claiborne on the depth chart and became the starter at right cornerback after the third game of the season. On December 13, he signed an additional two-year contract extension.[9]

On August 11, 2014, the NFL announced that Scandrick would be suspended for the first four games of the season for the usage of performance-enhancing drugs.[10] Although it was confirmed that he tested positive for MDMA, during his suspension the league revised its drug policy and his punishment was reduced to two games, by changing his violation from performance enhancing to substance abuse.[11] He made his debut in week 3 against the St. Louis Rams.

In 2015, he had a contract holdout and missed offseason workouts before reporting on May 18. On August 25, he tore his right ACL and MCL during a training camp practice, while attempting to tackle rookie wide receiver Lucky Whitehead. He was placed on the injured reserve list on September 1.[12]

In 2016, Scandrick played in 12 games with 10 starts, recording 46 tackles, 2 sacks, passes defensed, one interception and 3 forced fumbles. He missed 4 games while dealing with hamstring strains.

Scandrick returns a block field goal 88 yards against the Washington Redskins

In 2017, he missed the second game against the Denver Broncos after undergoing surgery to fix a broken hand he had in the season opener. He suffered two transverse process fractures in the twelfth game against the Washington Redskins, although he was able to return a blocked field goal for 86 yards to set up a critical touchdown. He missed the rest of the season and was placed on injured reserve on December 29.[13] He had 11 starts, 39 tackles, 3 quarterback pressures and 7 passes defensed.

In 2018, the Cowboys opted for a youth movement and a new philosophy in the team's defensive backfield with the arrival of defensive backs/passing game coordinator Kris Richard. On March 17, Scandrick was released after 10 seasons.[14] He finished his Cowboys career with 125 games played, 422 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 8 interceptions and 63 passes defensed.

On March 19, 2018, Scandrick signed a two-year contract with the Washington Redskins.[15] He was released on August 14, 2018.[16]

Scandrick signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million with the Kansas City Chiefs on August 19, 2018.[17] He played in 15 games with seven starts, recording 44 combined tackles, a career-high 13 passes defensed, one interception, and a forced fumble.

On July 27, 2019, Scandrick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.[18] He was released during final roster cuts on August 30, 2019.[19] He was re-signed on September 27.[20] In week 5 against the New York Jets, Scandrick recorded two strip sacks. On the second one, he strip-sacked Luke Falk and returned the ball for a 44-yard touchdown in the 31–6 win.[21] Two weeks later, Scandrick was beaten in the open field by the Cowboys' Tavon Austin for a 20-yard touchdown on a jet sweep.[22] He was released the next day, on October 21, 2019.[23]