Cowboys Lose Ex First-Round DB to Coach Quinn's Commanders In Free Agency

Former Dallas Cowboys special teams hero Noah Igbinoghene is the latest North Texas free agent to follow Dan Quinn to the Washington Commanders.

Noah Igbinoghene is the latest Dallas Cowboy to turn to the dark (red) side.

Per John Keim of ESPN, the Washington Commanders are set to sign the cornerback Igbinoghene, who becomes the fourth former Poke to defect to the nation's capital this offseason (joining Dorance Armstrong, Tyler Biadasz, and Dante Fowler).

Washington is set to be led by new head coach Dan Quinn, who oversaw the Dallas defense in each of the last three seasons.

Is this a substantial loss, even though “Iggy” was once a first-round pick in Miami? No. Is it a disturbing trend? Kinda.

Kevin Wexler, USA TODAY Network

Igbinoghene will be a summer project in Washington as he looks to reclaim the narrative of his NFL career. The Auburn alum and multi-sport athlete entered the league as a 20-year-old in 2020 and has struggled to live up to his first-round billing since the Miami Dolphins made him the 30th pick in the draft. 

Igbinoghene came to Dallas in a late summer trade that sent Kelvin Joseph east last season and primarily partook in special teams affairs.

In Dallas lore, Igbinoghene will go down as the firestarter of one of the most memorable blowouts in recent North Texas memory: in the most recent opener against the New York Giants (his Dallas debut), Igbinoghene took back a Graham Gano field goal blocked by Juanyeh Thomas 58 yards for the opening score in what became a 40-0 shellacking. 

Upon his arrival to Dallas, Igbinoghene expressed interest in working with Quinn, referring to the then-defensive boss as someone who could "up his game.”

Cowboys Trade: Noah Igbinoghene ‘Controversial’ Scouting Report

“Whatever they want me to do, I’m going to do it. Whether that’s special teams, whether that’s defense, it doesn’t matter whatever they want me to do," Igbinoghene said, per Jess Nevarez of Pro Football Network. "I’m excited to be here. I just want to help this team and serve this team the best way I can.”

As it is, in big numbers, for a bunch of Cowboys now in DC.