Ron Rivera Reveals Why Commanders Took 2 Defensive Backs to Start NFL Draft
The Washington Commanders have a new-look secondary after taking Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes and Illinois defensive back Quan Martin in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.
It's very rare to see a pair of players who play similar positions be taken by the same team with its first two picks, but Ron Rivera explained why the Commanders went against the grain.
“They were very highly rated on our board, first of all, to begin with," Rivera said. "But then secondly, the fit. When we got to that point and we're looking at what the options were, we really felt we could solidify that depth that we need in the secondary and actually have a guy that's also come in and compete to start at nickel and gives us some safety value as well.”
There's room for both Forbes and Martin to get some serious playing time right away. Forbes is expected to be an outside cornerback while Martin could slide inside at the nickel.
By drafting both players, the Commanders are also signaling that they have an eye on the future. Veteran Kendall Fuller is in the final year of his contract, and Washington will have to replace him eventually. There's a chance that the team could even look to move on from Fuller as early as this offseason. Washington could save up to $8.5 million by cutting the 28-year-old ahead of training camp.
That being said, whether Fuller remains on the team or not, the Commanders saw two talented players regardless of position, and looked to add them to the roster. Now that the talent is in the building, the Commanders can find the right direction for each of them.
Follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Washington Commanders? Click Here.
Follow Commander Country on Twitter.
Want even more Washington Commanders news? Check out the SI.com team page here.
