Bengals release former 1st-rounder Kirkpatrick

The Cincinnati Bengals parted ways with cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, the team announced on Tuesday.

Kirkpatrick was the Bengals' first-round pick in 2012. The move saves the AFC North club around $8.3 million of cap space, according to Spotrac.

The cornerback also confirmed the move on his Instagram story:

#Bengals CB Dre Kirkpatrick said goodbye to teammates on Instagram, and the team has informed him of his release. A quality starting CB on the market. pic.twitter.com/x3E0XPyXXu

- Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 31, 2020

Despite his late release, Kirkpatrick is expected to garner significant interest on the open market, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The 30-year-old racked up 302 tackles, 65 pass defenses, and 10 interceptions over eight seasons in Cincinnati.

The Bengals aggressively reinforced the cornerback position during free agency, signing former Minnesota Vikings veterans Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander.

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