The Dallas Cowboys have traded cornerback Kelvin Joseph in exchange for Miami Dolphins cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, swapping one underperforming player for another.
Grading the Kelvin Joseph-Noah Igbinoghene Trade
This is a flawed asset for a flawed asset. Neither Joseph nor Igbinoghene have met expectations. However, the Dolphins did save nearly $800,000 and got out of Igbinoghene’s guarantees.
So that alone makes them the winners.
Dolphins Grade: B-
Cowboys Grade: C
The trade for the Cowboys’ second-round draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft comes after he played his best football during training camp and preseason.
During training camp, Mike McCarthy said that Joseph played his “best stretch” of football since he was named head coach in 2020, praising him specifically for Joseph’s work in the nickel position.
“It’s the opportunity at nickel. You can see his hype and awareness. There’s nothing he can’t do physically, but I think the understanding of going in and playing nickel and what I like is I think it has made him better outside,” said McCarthy.
Since 2021, Joseph has had 36 combined total tackles in 26 games. He is a versatile player who has also been part of the special-teams unit. Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel says he has played “outstanding” in his unit.
After practice I had the opportunity to speak with special teams coach John Fassel about what he's looking for in special team players and Coach Bones has very high praises for CB Kelvin Joseph on Special teams! #westcoastcowboy #dallascowboys #4upage #4u #kelvinjoseph pic.twitter.com/HU1HqtguSr
— West Coast Cowboy (@WestCCowboy) August 10, 2023
Joseph’s off-the-field history has been a topic of conversation as well. In March 2022, Joseph was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in his connection to a homicide in Old East Dallas.
Igbinoghene is a former first-round pick who struggled in man-to-man coverage and recently lost out on the battle for CB3 to Eli Apple.