Emmanuel Forbes Jr. - Former Commanders CB
- No. 16 overall selection | 2023 NFL Draft
Ron Rivera made a lot of poor decisions with his first-round picks. None were more contentious than his unwavering belief that Emmanuel Forbes Jr. could be the lockdown cornerback the Washington Commanders desperately needed.
Rivera was locked in on Forbes from a long way out. Analysts were split on the defensive back due to his featherweight physique and poor tackling technique. That wasn't an opinion shared by the ex-head coach, who took the Mississippi State product at No. 16 overall despite Christian Gonzalez being there for the taking.
This reportedly resulted in a shouting match in Washington's draft war room. Forbes got significant responsibilities right out of the gate, but his rookie campaign quickly evolved into an unmitigated disaster.
Forbes was victimized by the prolific NFL wideouts. He was outmatched physically and saw his confidence drop significantly along the way. When head coach Dan Quinn and the new regime came into the fold, it didn't take long for the college ballhawk to become an afterthought.
The same complications were rife whenever Forbes got reps in the starting rotation. Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. benched him relatively early and he never got his place back. There weren't many raised eyebrows when the Commanders cut him loose.
As for Gonzalez? He's a shutdown-caliber performer who thrived during the 2024 season. Forbes landed on the Los Angeles Rams but barely featured — yet another cataclysmic error from Rivera.
Jahan Dotson - Former Commanders WR
- No. 16 overall selection | 2022 NFL Draft
The Commanders took sentiment out of their decision-making process when Adam Peters became general manager. This was especially evident when examining wide receiver Jahan Dotson's predicament in greater detail.
Dotson had all the talent, but something was missing in 2023. The former first-round pick had trouble creating separation and struggled with concentration issues. Although disappointing, the Commanders were willing to give him another shot at firmly establishing himself during the offseason.
When Dotson struggled to adjust within Kliff Kingsbury's schematic concepts, Peters pivoted. He looked to extract maximum value for the Penn State product, trading him to the division rival Philadelphia Eagles.
That was a calculated risk by Peters, displaying his willingness to take the best offer regardless of where it comes from. Dotson was eager to make his old employers pay for their lack of confidence in his ability, but establishing himself in Philadelphia's wide receiver room was a challenging task.
Dotson played 58 percent of the team's offensive snaps. He got targeted 33 times, bringing in 19 receptions for 216 receiving yards. The wideout also brought in a crucial early catch during the Super Bowl as the Eagles pulverized the Kansas City Chiefs.
He got a ring, but Dotson might never live up to his first-round billing.