Seahawks' CB3 Battle in Training Camp Could Have a Favorite Emerging

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The Seattle Seahawks are figuring out what their depth chart will look like going into the season as training camp continues to roll into the first preseason game.
Riq Woolen is no longer with the team after signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, so his spot in the depth chart is up for grabs. The Seahawks could sign a free agent like Terrion Arnold, who worked out with the team earlier this week, but they could also promote someone from within. Nehemiah Pritchett is making a strong impression and could make a case for that spot in the secondary rotation.
"He's really competing and really excited for the opportunity he has," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said via the team's website. "He's making the most of it. He's making a heck of a case for carving himself a role."
Why Nehemiah Pritchett Could Win CB3 Role

Pritchett and former first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene are listed as the second-string cornerbacks in the Seahawks' first unofficial depth chart, which was released earlier this week ahead of the team's preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
Pritchett is hungry for more going into his third season, which could fuel his attempt at earning that third spot on the depth chart.
"I definitely want the bigger role, I'm embracing the competition," Pritchett told reporters. "I'm just trying to take it day by day and take the steps I need to take to keep getting better each and every day, so if I'm put into that role, it'll be smooth."
Igbinoghene has the NFL experience as he enters his seventh NFL season with his fourth different franchise. Pritchett has the experience of playing in Aden Derde's defensive scheme for the past two years. That's part of what makes this decision very difficult. It doesn't make the Seahawks' job any easier knowing that both of them have performed well in training camp.
Player | Noah Igbinoghene | Nehemiah Pritchett |
|---|---|---|
Years Exp. | 6 | 2 |
Height | 5-11 | 6-0 |
Weight | 197 | 190 |
2024 Stats | 55 tackles, 7 passes defensed (17 games, 10 starts for WAS) | 12 tackles, 1 pass defensed (10 games, 1 start for SEA) |
2025 Stats | 35 tackles, 1.0 sacks, 5 passes defensed (15 games, 2 starts for WAS) | 14 tackles, 2 passes defensed (17 games, 0 starts for SEA) |
"Whoever wins the job, it's not like they're the ones getting all those snaps. It's about how we want to deploy and how many DBs do we give time? Do we want to be able to play more three linebacker sets? Do we want to play more five down sets? It's everybody right now," Macdonald told reporters.
"The front guys are battling to say, 'Hey, look, we need to be on the field more.' That trickles into the linebacker room, which affects the DB room and vice versa. That's where we're at right now. Both those two guys you mentioned (Pritchett and Noah Igbinoghene) are having really good camps, and they're definitely putting their best foot forward."
The Seahawks' defense doesn't work the same as many other units across the league. Their ability to utilize different positions in other ways makes them build their team very differently than others. That could make things easier or harder to do, depending on what position they play.
Ultimately, the team is looking for effort and competitiveness, so it only makes for a very challenging decision for the team.
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Jeremy Brener is an editor and writer for Seattle Seahawks On SI. He has been covering the Seahawks since 2023. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism.
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