After weeks of rumors swirling that the Cincinnati Bengals could make such a move, the team has decided to officially release longtime starting cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. It’s a cost-cutting measure that will force Kirkpatrick to play somewhere outside of southern Ohio for the first time in eight full seasons.
The Bengals originally selected Kirkpatrick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft at No. 17 overall after a standout career at the University of Alabama. Kirkpatrick has been a staple as a boundary corner for Cincy in those eight years with 62 starts in the last five seasons.