Quan Martin - Commanders S
- Round No. 2 | Pick No. 47
Taking defensive backs with his first two selections in the 2023 NFL Draft was a contentious issue among the fanbase. Ron Rivera thought this was the spark his secondary needed. Unfortunately, only one ended up contributing during his tenure.
That wasn't his darling first-rounder. It was Quan Martin.
Martin was a standout safety at Illinois en route to becoming the No. 47 overall selection. The Commanders didn't deploy him on the backend, opting to move him into the nickel cornerback role due to the lack of dependable options.
This came with some success. The Commanders' defense wasn't exactly dominant, but Martin more than held his own. His physicality against the run and awareness in coverage stood out. Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. also liked what they saw in the player.
They switched Martin to his preferred position immediately. His safety partnership with Jeremy Chinn became impactful throughout the campaign. He looked much better suited to Quinn's schematic concepts. There were some lapses in coverage, but his efforts against the run was impressive all things considered.
- Draft grade: A-
If Martin can build on his newfound momentum, he's got the scope to become a long-term piece for the Commanders. This looks like a rare success story from Rivera's draft picks.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. - Former Commanders CB
- Round No. 1 | Pick No. 16
Ron Rivera was only interested in drafting one player with his first-round pick in 2023. The head coach developed an infatuation with Emmanuel Forbes Jr.'s skill set — something he felt could be the missing piece within Washington's cornerback room.
Rivera honed in on Forbes and remained stubborn. Even when Christian Gonzalez — a prospect with much more going for him — fell out of the top 10 and into Washington's lap, the Commanders still took the Mississippi State product. This reportedly came with heated discussions in the war room, with some scouts and front-office personnel believing they should have done things differently.
They were right. Forbes's lack of size became a major problem. He was bullied by opposing wide receivers when tasked with significant responsibilities. Rivera eventually sent him to the fringes, but the damage had already been done.
The Commanders gave him another shot. Forbes made the 53-man roster, but the same poor performance levels remained. Adam Peters waived the defensive back, who was claimed by the Los Angeles Rams but barely featured.
- Draft grade: F-
This was Rivera's final tragic tale. Forbes was not the right call. Almost everyone knew it but him. Stubbornness won the day, as it often did during his tenure.
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