The Washington Commanders let several underperforming players take their chances elsewhere as part of general manager Adam Peters' latest offseason roster revamp. This was desperately needed after a five-win campaign, and not every departure managed to catch on somewhere else.
But for one veteran who never came close to meeting expectations, he wasted no time in leaving a good impression with his new employers.
Aside from a few flashes of promise, cornerback Noah Igbinoghene never firmly established himself over his two years in Washington. After playing 76 percent of defensive snaps in 2024, confidence in his capabilities completely diminished last season. His snap count decreased to 36%, which is pretty damning amid the Commanders' constant stream of injuries.
Noah Igbinoghene is making the right impression weeks after Commanders exit
As expected, there wasn't much of a fight to keep Igbinoghene around this spring. The 2020 first-round pick out of Auburn landed on his feet, signing a one-year deal with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. And according to new teammate Julian Love, the defensive back is already setting the right tone for others to follow.
“I think he brings a sense of competition. Noah (Igbinoghene), from the jump, he’s out here. He’s in the weight room lifting with (outside linebacker) Derick Hall, one of the strongest guys on the team, trying to just like one-up him. Maybe it’s like an Auburn thing, I don’t know.”
This shouldn't come as a great shock to Commanders fans. Igbinoghene always stood out during the summer. He was a model professional who earned widespread plaudits from the coaching staff, leaving a glimmer of hope that he could finally fulfill his pre-draft promise.
Sadly, this never transitioned effectively enough to a competitive environment. And though head coach Dan Quinn trusted the player from their time together on the Dallas Cowboys, it was the right time for a fresh start.
There are still some slight concerns around the cornerback position. Marshon Lattimore and Jonathan Jones also departed, replaced by Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon. Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil will lead the charge, but the Commanders are placing hope in improvements to the front seven and in Daronte Jones' scheme to bring more out of the entire secondary.
As for Igbinoghene? He's looking to cement his status on the Seahawks' 53-man roster and earn a prominent spot on the rotation. He's got the size and length Mike Macdonald looks for in his defensive backs, but his consistency needs to improve exponentially to stand any chance.
Igbinoghene has made a good first impression. But as Commanders fans are painfully aware, there needs to be more substance behind it this time.
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