In terms of timing and coincidence, a lot of things had to work together to make cornerback Emmanuel Forbes a complete and utter failure after he was drafted by the Washington Commanders with the No. 16 overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
In terms of the franchise itself, things were more in flux than they’d been in over 20 years as ownership changed hands — a deal that went through just 3 months after Forbes was drafted when Daniel Snyder sold the team to a group led by Josh Harris and Magic Johnson for $6.05 billion in July 2023.
While NFL owners can say whatever they want about “leaving big decisions” to head coaches and general managers, they’re the ones carrying the nuclear football in terms of the team. Anytime they want, they can step in and change a pick if they want. It’s one of the benefits of owning the team.
Forbes, for better or worse, was always going to be someone else’s decision.
That wasn’t the only problem facing Forbes. Head coach Ron Rivera was already on his last leg as Washington’s head coach after consecutive 7-9 seasons in 2021 and 2022 and was fired after going 4-13 in 2023.
Forbes, for better or worse, was always going to be a previous coaching staff’s player.
For Forbes, it was a recipe for disaster.
Embarrassing Rookie Year Sank Forbes Early On
The Commanders didn’t buck any trend by drafting Forbes in the first round other than ignoring concerns about his size — at 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds he was at least 15-20 pounds less than what we think of as a typical NFL cornerback, regardless of height.
Forbes’ speed — he ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine — and his production made the Commanders overlook concerns about his size. In 3 seasons at Mississippi State, Forbes set the FBS career record with 6 interceptions returned for touchdowns.
With a 4-year, $15.4 million rookie contract, Forbes started 6 games in 2023 but was benched several times, including one of the most brutal “Welcome to the NFL” moments in recent memory when Philadelphia Eagles NFL All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown torched Forbes for 9 receptions, 175 yards and 2 touchdowns in Week 4.
After Rivera was fired and a new head coach hired in Dan Quinn, new general manager hired in Adam Peters and new ownership in place, Forbes only played 6 games for the Commanders in 2024 before he was released.
Of the four first-round picks Rivera had a hand in — Forbes, wide receiver Jahan Dotson (2022), linebacker Jamin Davis (2021) and edge rusher Chase Young (2022) — none still play for the Commanders.
New Life With the Rams in NFC West
The Los Angeles Rams signed Forbes just days after his release and he has blossomed into a full time starter in 2025, with ESPN’s Mina Kimes pointing out that he’s in the middle of what could be cautiously described as a bounce back year.
Through those 3 games, Forbes has 9 tackles and 3 pass deflections in 3 starts.
“It’s Forbes revenge game … Forbes versus A.J. Brown was the game that essentially ended Emmanuel Forbes‘ career in Washington as a first round pick,” Kimes said on September 18. And Forbes is having a little career renaissance there with the Rams.
Commanders Former First Round Pick Gets ‘Career Renaissance’ in NFC West