The Washington Commanders selected Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes at No. 16 overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
Forbes joins a Washington team that highlighted cornerback as a primary need and joins starters Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste in the Commanders secondary.
What stands out about Forbes is his college production. In three seasons, Forbes had 14 interceptions, six of which he returned for touchdowns. The other thing that stands out about Forbes is his size. While is 6-foot-1, he weighs just 166 pounds, making him one of the smaller players drafted over the years.
“I played in the SEC for three years and never missed one game … due to a football injury,” Forbes told Stefan Krajisnik of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger in March. “I just feel like I’m durable and physical for my size.”
Forbes’ ball skills were the most impressive of anyone in the draft. Washington badly needed a defender capable of creating turnovers.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had the following scouting report on Forbes:
Forbes is long, can run and has a talent for taking the ball away, which means he has a chance to become a coveted cornerback. However, his wire-thin frame does not work in his favor. Forbes’ instincts and recognition are fun to watch. He pounces on quick-game throws and has the ball skills to take the ball away. He’s highly capable in all forms of zone coverage and operates out of press-man, but is inconsistent matching the release and staying in phase with routes through sharp cuts. His slender build and lack of tackle strength will make him a target for opposing running games. Forbes could become an early starter with quality ball production, but teams might need to expect some up-and-down performances.
