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Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins have engaged in a trade involving two cornerbacks looking for a fresh start.
The Dolphins have sent Noah Igbinoghene, their 2020 first-round pick, to the Cowboys in exchange for Kelvin Joseph, the Cowboys’ 2021 second-round pick, as both teams finalized their initial 53-man rosters on Tuesday, according to official announcements.
“I had a positive impression of Igbinoghene when he entered the league. I also remember his exceptional kickoff return skills and his remarkable speed,” praised Dallas coach Mike McCarthy regarding Igbinoghene. “His strength lies in playing as an outside cornerback, which made him an appealing prospect for us. I’ve observed him lining up against top receivers, and I was genuinely impressed by his performance. He’s a valuable addition to our team.”
During his tenure with the Dolphins, Igbinoghene started only five out of 32 games and managed to intercept one pass. Joseph, on the other hand, had three starts in 26 games with the Cowboys and failed to make any interceptions. Igbinoghene is set to earn $2.144 million in the final year of his rookie contract, while Joseph is expected to earn $1.367 million and is signed through next year. Igbinoghene spent 14 games as an inactive player over the past two seasons, while Joseph primarily contributed as a special teams player for the Cowboys, which diverges from the initial expectations when he was drafted at No. 44 in 2021.
In 2022, Joseph was associated with a homicide investigation as a passenger in a vehicle involved in a drive-by shooting. However, Dallas police decided not to press charges against Joseph. Following the release of a video capturing the incident, Joseph cooperated with the police, leading to the arrest of two individuals. It remains uncertain whether Joseph may still face disciplinary actions from the NFL under the personal conduct policy.
During the offseason and training camp, the Cowboys experimented with Joseph in the slot position. However, sources indicate that the team intends to include cornerback Jourdan Lewis on the active roster. Lewis had been on the active/physically unable to perform list due to a Lisfranc injury suffered against the Detroit Lions last October, which required a cast or boot for six months.
“Given the circumstances, Joseph has a chance to showcase his skills as an inside cornerback,” explained McCarthy. “He was further down on our depth chart. Joseph has demonstrated exceptional abilities in special teams and has considerable experience both inside and outside.”
“I’m not directly involved in trade discussions,” McCarthy added. “However, I do know that Miami expressed interest due to Joseph’s demonstrated prowess in the inside position.”
In Lewis’ absence last year, the Cowboys relied on DaRon Bland in the slot, who excelled by leading the defense with five interceptions. Nonetheless, Lewis being included in the 53-man roster does not guarantee his readiness for Week 1 action against the New York Giants. The team plans to gradually increase his workload in practice to assess his foot’s response. If Lewis had remained on the physically unable to perform list, he would have missed the first four games and would be unable to practice. The Cowboys used a similar strategy last year with wide receiver Michael Gallup, who was recovering from major knee surgery. Gallup missed the first three games last season while still recuperating.
This trade marks the second acquisition of a first-round pick by the Cowboys within a week. They previously acquired quarterback Trey Lance, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft, from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick.
As a rookie, Igbinoghene appeared in 16 games, largely substituting for injured cornerback Byron Jones. However, he received limited playing time over the subsequent two seasons, appearing in a total of 16 games. Igbinoghene’s most memorable performance came during the 2022 season when he secured his first career interception, leading to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Coming from a family of Nigerian Olympic athletes, Igbinoghene transitioned from being a wide receiver to a cornerback during his sophomore year at Auburn.
Reported by ESPN staff writer Marcel Louis-Jacques.
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