Everyone needs a fresh start once in a while, and for new Dallas Cowboys cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, this offseason was one such occasion.
Igbinoghene was the No. 30 overall pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2020 NFL Draft, but never quite fit in with the team. The former Auburn Tigers cornerback started just five of the 32 games he played with Miami, recording 25 solo tackles, five passes defended and a lone interception. Unfortunately for the former first-round pick, his first three NFL seasons were largely forgettable.
On Tuesday, though, Igbinoghene (pronounced "ig-bih-nah-GOO-knee") got the fresh start he was looking for when the Cowboys acquired him in exchange for fellow corner Kelvin Joseph. After a rough start to his career, the fourth-year corner - who admits that his struggles in Miami made him "afraid to fail'' - is excited to have a clean slate once again.
"I feel like I honestly needed it," Igbinoghene said. "I can say my career hasn't gone up to my expectations, but I'm still young. I'm 23 years old. When I came in, I was 20 years old. There's a lot of stuff I went through, but it made me the man I am today. I get a new, fresh start with a new opportunity and new, fresh faces. I get to gain my respect again on a new team and show them what I can do."
The Cowboys already have great cornerback depth, with two stars in Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore as well as good slot options in DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis. To get snaps in this group, Igbinoghene will have to stand out in some way.
Fortunately, though, Igbinoghene is coming to Dallas with the right mindset. He's ready to do whatever is asked of him, no matter what it takes.
"It's a blessing," Igbinoghene said. "I'm excited to get to work and to be a part of this team. … It's an amazing opportunity to be here and play for this team. I'm hoping to thrive here. I'm going to put the work in and see how it goes.
"… Whatever they want me to do, I'm going to do it. Whether that's special teams, defense, it doesn't matter. I'm going to do it. … I just want to help and serve this team as best I can."
Igbinoghene may have had a rough first chapter in Miami, but now, he feels like everything is still ahead of him in Dallas.
"The vision, the dream and the goals I have for my life and career, I feel like it can take place here with the Cowboys," Igbinoghene said.
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