Re-grading the Commanders 2023 NFL Draft class after one season
Ron Rivera's no longer head coach of the Washington Commanders for a variety of reasons, but the poor returns from the team's 2023 NFL Draft class are one of the biggest.
By James Dudko
Emmanuel Forbes led a 2023 NFL Draft class for the Washington Commanders that failed to impact the team's fortunes for the better.
Emmanuel Forbes was drafted by the Washington Commanders to be a shutdown cornerback. Instead, he was routinely turned over in coverage and landed on the bench.
There's always one cautionary tale per class, but Forbes was no outlier for the Commanders' 2023 rookies. His growing pains were shared by other prominent picks, including two linemen who didn't help a makeshift offensive front that surrendered 65 sacks.
Coaching was also a problem. There was mismanagement across the board as things spiraled out of control. Something that led to the foregone conclusion of firing Ron Rivera once the regular-season ended.
The same inability to match scheme with talent that failed quarterback Sam Howell also hindered second-round pick Quan Martin.
He's somebody who will surely benefit from a new head coach and more creative staff. Martin isn't the only member of this draft class who still has a future, but those who do have a long way to go to change these grades, starting with Forbes.
With that in mind, we took a look and re-graded the Commanders' draft class in 2023 after one season.