SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks moved fast to patch the hole in their secondary Sunday, agreeing to terms with cornerback Noah Igbinoghene on a one-year deal. The move comes just days after Pro Bowler Riq Woolen bolted for a $15 million payday in Philadelphia. Mike Macdonald isn’t looking for a carbon copy of Woolen; he’s looking for a chess piece.
The Versatility Play
Seattle is betting on a career resurgence for the former 30th overall pick. Igbinoghene didn’t find his footing in Miami or Dallas, but his 2024 and 2025 campaigns in Washington showed glimpses of a reliable pro. Last season, he logged 35 tackles and his first career sack across 15 games. While his coverage numbers fluctuated, his ability to slide between the boundary and the slot is what caught Seattle’s eye.
The Seahawks secondary is in the middle of a massive facelift. With Woolen gone, the spotlight shifts to All-Pro Devon Witherspoon and the recently re-signed Josh Jobe. Jobe effectively took Woolen’s starting job late last season, but depth remains the priority for a defense that ranked 10th in 2025. Igbinoghene will jump straight into a battle for the CB3 spot, providing a veteran safety net for a unit defending a world championship.
Philly’s New Speedster
While Seattle builds depth, the Philadelphia Eagles just added a track star. Riq Woolen’s departure leaves a vacuum of pure athleticism in the Pacific Northwest. Standing 6-foot-4 with 4.26 speed, Woolen joins a Philly room already featuring Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Woolen admitted he was already a fan of his new teammates before the ink even dried on his contract.
The Eagles are paying for the ceiling. Woolen led the NFL with six interceptions as a rookie and has piled up 53 passes defended in his career. However, the lapses in discipline that led to his benching in Seattle will be under a microscope in Philadelphia. If Nick Sirianni can iron out those wrinkles, the Eagles might have the most physically imposing secondary in the NFC.
“When I watched that game, and I saw the way Mitchell and Coop were tackling, they were covering, they were strapping guys up, it was pretty cool to see. Now that I’m able to be a part of that, it’s awesome because it’s like, dang, where can you throw the ball to?”
— Riq Woolen, Philadelphia Eagles Cornerback
What’s Next for Seattle
The Seahawks aren’t finished. Even with Igbinoghene in the fold, look for Mike Macdonald to target another defensive back in the upcoming draft to maintain their elite rotation. Seattle’s defensive identity relies on a “three-as-two” rotation where no one’s job is safe. Igbinoghene has the physical tools to thrive in this system, but he’ll need to prove he can handle the high-press demands of Macdonald’s scheme from day one of training camp.
