It didn’t take long for Washington Commanders rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes to make his presence felt.
In Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated’s column Tuesday, he noted how Forbes “immediately turned heads” at Washington’s minicamp over the weekend, even drawing comparisons to Dallas Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs.
The 16th pick in April’s draft came out flying in rookie minicamp—with a pick on the first day that reminded one Washington coach of Trevon Diggs—in how instinctively and aggressively Forbes went after the ball. And I sussed that comparison out after the coach’s initial reaction to the rookie’s weekend was simply, “Forbes is really f—ing good.”
Of course, the tape on the former Mississippi State star was spectacular. No one debates his reel was one of the best in the draft. His frame is the problem. And to be fair, in a noncontact minicamp setting, the sturdiness of that 6-foot, 166-pound body wasn’t going to be tested. So we’ll see, come summer and fall, how he answers those questions. But so far, so good.
It’s always good to make a first impression. Forbes, who intercepted 14 passes in three seasons of SEC football at Mississippi State, holds the FBS record for six interceptions returned for touchdowns. His playmaking skills are real and many believe will translate to the NFL.
The biggest knock on Forbes is his size, something he nor the Commanders are concerned about. Forbes was a physical player in college and never missed a game due to injury. That doesn’t mean anything at the next level, but it is worth noting that just because he’s slight doesn’t mean he is bound to get injured.
In addition to drafting Forbes, the Commanders also selected versatile defensive back Quan Martin in the second round, giving Washington a potentially outstanding secondary in 2023.
