The second-year cornerback still has some growing to do.
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Chris Grier’s draft picks have been one of the more scrutinized aspects of his job since being promoted to general manager back in 2016.
While he drafted three solid rookies in wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, safety Jevon Holland, and linebacker Jaelan Phillips in this past draft, he’s had some that haven’t worked out as well. The selection of Noah Igbinoghene with the 30th pick in 2020 is among them.
Through two seasons, Igbinoghene hasn’t been able to get on the field much. He was active for 16 games in his rookie season, playing just 28% of defensive snaps, and this year he’s only been available for seven games, playing just 17% of snaps. That’s not exactly ideal for a first-round pick.
This week, Dolphins cornerbacks coach Charles Burks spoke on Igbinoghene’s career to this point. He was asked which one of the cornerback’s traits gives him faith that he’ll be a successful player in this league, and the coach gave the one thing that can’t be coached.
“Just his athletic ability,” Burks said. “I think he definitely has tools to be successful in the league, but there’s a lot more to that. Not saying that he doesn’t have those other things, but it’s just not necessarily an athletic skill… It’s not just necessarily being a really good athlete. It’s the preparation. It’s the instincts. It’s the film. It’s all that encompassing that can really change your game and take you to a high level.”
Later in his media availability, Burks was asked what he’d like to see Igbinoghene work on this offseason.
“The main thing is routine and attention to detail and being self-motivated,” he said. “Again, not saying that he’s not. That’s just what everybody that I’ve coached. It’s those three things, if you do those at a high level, it’s gonna put you in a position to do good things when your opportunity arrives again. He has two guys in front of him that are playing at a high level. Those guys, in the offseason, they will have the same message to them from me.”
With Xavien Howard and Byron Jones clearly being the top two cornerbacks on the roster, Igbinoghene has to continue to work if he wants to get opportunities to prove himself worthy of that draft selection. It’s an uphill battle, and these quotes from Burks don’t feel like there’s a ton of faith that he can get there.
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