5 Commanders who cannot afford to get complacent in 2024
By James Dudko
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. - Commanders CB
Like Jahan Dotson, Emmanuel Forbes Jr. is another first-round draft pick who has yet to meet expectations. Being left on an island in a barely coherent coverage scheme under Jack Del Rio and Ron Rivera didn't help, but the cornerback was beaten down too often as a rookie in 2023.
Rivera and Del Rio are no longer around to foot the blame, so the onus is on the ex-Mississippi State standout leaping during his second season with the Washington Commanders. That won't be easy since head coach Dan Quinn usually relies on press-style man coverage on the back end.
It's a style of coverage hardly suited to 6-foot, 180-pounder Forbes' core skills. He's best in off coverage as a natural ball hawk opportunistic and athletic enough to jump passes and collect turnovers in bunches.
That's what the Commanders were hoping for when they selected Forbes at No. 16 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. If he can't show an aptitude for what Quinn wants, the athletic second-year pro might find himself supplanted by more physical cover men like Benjamin St-Juste and Quan Martin.
Second-round pick Mike Sainristil could also graduate from creating pressure out of the slot to become somebody coaches trust in coverage on the outside. Another reason Forbes must improve throughout the preparation period en route to becoming more consistent when competitive action arrives.
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