The Washington Commanders signed first-round cornerback Emmanuel Forbes to his four-year rookie deal on Friday. The deal comes with a fifth-year option. The Commanders also signed rookie defensive back Quan Martin and placed safety Xavier Henderson (undisclosed) on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Forbes was taken 16th overall in the first round of this year's NFL draft after proving himself as one of the best defensive backs in the SEC in the last three years. There are concerns about his size at just 166 pounds, but the 22-year-old makes up for it in speed and athleticism. Forbes might not rack up a ton of tackles in his first year in the NFL, but his reputation as a ball hawk could make him worth considering in deeper IDP fantasy formats.
Washington Commanders rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes was always around the ball and got his hands on numerous passes during spring practices, even intercepting a few. Forbes has impressed coaches and teammates in how he handled workouts, giving them hope that he'll be able to create big plays for the defense. The 22-year-old mostly worked on the outside with the starters, but the team also used him inside on occasion to help him read routes even better. Forbes is a skinny 166 pounds, but he showed an ability to adapt by using his quickness and length to prevent receivers and tight ends from bullying him. "He's got a great anticipation of routes," defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer said. "The other thing is you watch him get in and out of breaks. He does a great job. His transition of his feet is so quick."
Washington Commanders first-round cornerback Emmanuel Forbes was deployed strictly on the outside in college because of his high-end coverage instincts, but the Commanders typically lined up in the slot during rookie minicamp over the weekend. The spot makes sense for Forbes if the team looks to keep starters Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste on the boundaries. Forbes should be a starter for Washington in his rookie season in 2023, and he set the collegiate record by returning six of his 14 interceptions back for touchdowns, so he's likely to eventually have appeal as a defensive back in IDP fantasy leagues. But it will be interesting if Forbes stays in the slot, because his 6-foot-1, 173-pound frame doesn't exactly profile well on the inside.
The Washington Commanders selected Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday night. Many folks thought the Commanders might go with Kentucky quarterback Will Levis with this pick, but they chose to bolster their secondary instead. Forbes is a great pick here at 16th overall with great length and ball-hawking skills. The concern for the 22-year-old is his durability at the next level given his size (6-foot-1, 166 pounds), but he plays stronger than his size. In 36 collegiate games at Mississippi State, Forbes posted 14 interceptions and ran six of them back for touchdowns.
