John Schneider began reloading the depth pieces in the Seattle Seahawks’ secondary by signing safety Rodney Thomas II last week. Now, he has followed up that move by bringing in cornerback Noah Igbinoghene to help offset the loss of Riq Woolen.
Igbinoghene was a first-round draft pick by Miami in 2020, but he never lived up to that lofty pedigree.
Still, after one season in Dallas, he impressed the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, enough for Quinn to bring the former Auburn star to Washington when he took over as Commanders’ head coach in 2024. Igbinoghene didn’t exactly flourish in DC, but in a very weak secondary, he was able to provide some quality relief when the projected starters stumbled.
Failed first-round draft pick should fit in nicely with the Seattle Seahawks' elite Dark Side secondary
The defense that Mike Macdonald and Aden Durde run in Seattle should be a dream come true for Igbinoghene, allowing him to play to his strengths and minimize the things he has struggled with as a pro.
In 2025, the Seahawks relied almost entirely on three cornerbacks. Devon Witherspoon was the free-lancing alpha of the group, while Woolen and Josh Jobe played the more traditional perimeter roles. The only other players who saw even limited snaps at corner were the now-departed Derion Kendrick, the prodigal journeyman Shaq Griffin, and the raw 2024 draft pick Nehemiah Pritchett.
By re-signing Jobe, Schneider took care of one potential headache. But apart from Pritchett, who has worked himself into a valuable special teamer but remains a major question mark as a corner, the roster lacks any kind of depth.
Enter Igbinoghene, a physically gifted athlete who has turned into a serviceable backup after six NFL seasons.
He has a sturdy 5’11” frame and has a very respectable 4.48 speed. Theoretically, he should be a solid perimeter corner who can play press or zone, but the reality is that he has struggled when asked to play man coverage on the outside.
He is at his best playing in zones, especially in the slot. He makes tackles. Though he can be beaten, he is rarely torched. His physical gifts allow him to rotate to the perimeter when necessary.
In other words, he is an ideal fit in Seattle’s complex matchup zone scheme. At this point in his career, Igbinoghene can do a little bit of everything, and if he is not among the league’s best in any one area, he is competent in every area.
Though I expect he will line up primarily in the slot for the Seahawks, like all of Seattle’s defensive backs, he has the versatility to move around – to blitz on occasion and to drop deep at times. It would not be surprising to see him fill in at safety if the situation dictates such a move.
Virtually all of Seattle’s safeties can rotate to the perimeter on occasion. Nick Emmanwori can play anywhere. Julian Love and Ty Okada are good enough athletes to run with receivers. Rodney Thomas fits that profile as well.
The Hawks' defense is at its most devastating when both Witherspoon and Emmanwori are free to roam. They can play anywhere, but if they have to because of roster holes, it limits how creative and confusing Macdonald and Durde can be.
Getting a player like Noah Igbinoghene helps alleviate that pressure. You can put him in the slot – especially on a squad where he will be surrounded by great players – and not worry too much about him. You can blitz him at times. He can flip outside if Spoon is going to blitz.
In other words, he’s the kind of quality depth the Seahawks need to allow their stars to keep shining. He’s never going to live up to that first-round draft status. Fortunately, he is now with a team where he doesn’t have to.