Seahawks CB Jobe in new territory heading into 2026

At one point during the Super Bowl this past February, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe forced New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte out of bounds with suffocating man-to-man coverage and then knocked Drake Maye’s pass away for a third-down breakup.

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It embodied the physicality Jobe has shown while climbing the ranks from practice-squad obscurity to a starting role on the NFL’s top defense.

And that physical style is a big reason why the 28-year-old Jobe is now firmly entrenched as Seattle’s No. 2 cornerback.

Jobe seized the CB2 role from Riq Woolen midway through last season and then re-signed with the Seahawks on a three-year, $24 million deal in March. Woolen, meanwhile, departed in free agency to sign a one-year, $12 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“He’s maybe not the most talented corner you’re going to find in the league, but I don’t think you’re going to find too many guys that work harder,” Seattle Sports’ Mike Salk said while highlighting Jobe at No. 24 on Brock and Salk’s annual preseason ranking of the most intriguing Seahawks. “I don’t think you’re going to find too many guys more willing to stick their face in the fan.

“And if he’s not faster than the receiver, he’s going to try to be more physical than that receiver,” Salk added. “I love the way he plays the game. I think it’s one of the reasons he signed a three-year, $24 million deal this offseason, just as they let (Woolen) walk.

“Oh, you think we’re going to miss Riq? Yeah, we’re not even going to make him an offer. The guy we want back is Josh Jobe. And I think a lot of it has to do with the style he plays and the success he’s had with it.”

Jobe’s ascendance

Jobe went undrafted out of Alabama and spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons in Philadelphia, where he started three games for the Eagles. After being released by Philadelphia during 2024 roster cutdowns, he signed with Seattle’s practice squad.

Jobe surged up Seattle’s depth chart in 2024 and took over as the team’s No. 3 cornerback midway through the season. He then elevated his game to another level in 2025, recording an interception and 12 pass breakups.

Jobe also recorded the ninth-lowest opposing completion percentage (49.5%), the 13th-fewest yards allowed per target (5.7) and the 22nd-lowest opposing passer rating (77.0) out of the 83 cornerbacks who logged at least 500 defensive snaps last season, according to Stathead. In addition, Jobe ranked 18th out of 112 cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus run defense grading.

Now, for the first time in his NFL career, Jobe enters the season as an undisputed starter.

“Now you’re the starting corner,” former NFL quarterback Brock Huard said. “Now that’s your spot. Now there’s not really anybody pushing you like you pushed Woolen out. … So now you’re going to have to carry the freight with higher expectations, and the ball’s going to be coming your way as it did a year ago.

“And I don’t think there’s any concern, any worry, any fear that he won’t still be that same guy that he has always been here in Seattle.”

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