Darrick Forrest became something of a forgotten man under the new Washington Commanders regime. Now, the talented but overlooked safety will get a fresh start on one of the league's leading contenders.
Forrest was a standout young safety just two seasons ago. His prolific partnership with Kamren Curl had plenty of scope for further improvements entering the 2023 campaign. Unfortunately, this came to an abrupt halt thanks in no small part to injury.
The former Cincinnati standout's season was cut short after just five games. Curl struggled to find the same consistency without Forrest alongside him. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and head coach Ron Rivera were fired, which meant a new staff came into the fold with a different set of ideas.
Commanders' forgotten man Darrick Forrest finds new home in free agency
Curl didn't get a new deal and signed for the Los Angeles Rams. Forrest stuck around and made the 53-man roster, but he was largely on the fringes after Jeremy Chinn's arrival. He was even a healthy scratch on several occasions, which represented a damning indictment of how the coaching staff perceived his ability.
There was no way Forrest would get re-signed. Chances are he'd have turned down any extension offered in pursuit of a new challenge. As it turned out, he landed in one of the best possible places to resurrect his career.
According to Cameron Wolfe from the NFL Network, the Buffalo Bills signed Forrest to a one-year deal. The AFC East squad is trying to get over the hump to no avail as yet. Things might not have gone according to plan for the defensive back under new head coach Dan Quinn, but it's far too early to write him off just yet.
Just why Forrest fell so far out of favor is anyone's guess. Quinn likes bigger, versatile defenders on the backend of his unit. Jeremy Chinn and Quan Martin were the obvious starters, and the four-year pro couldn't raise confidence to find his way up the depth chart.
This represents an outstanding chance for Forrest. He won't walk into a starting spot, but there's nothing to suggest he cannot become a decent rotational piece at worst. He should also be highly motivated to silence his doubters after how things fizzled out in Washington.
This is the second safety departure since free agency began. Chinn's outstanding contribution last season wasn't enough for an extension and he signed for the Las Vegas Raiders. Will Harris was acquired on a two-year deal, so it'll be interesting to see if he can fill the void.
As for Forrest? He'll be relishing the prospect of potentially helping the Bills go deep into the playoffs once again. Commanders fans will wish him well, but they'll always wonder how things would have unfolded for the player had he not gotten injured at the worst time.
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