NFL Draft Grades: Experts Torn on Commanders Taking Emmanuel Forbes
The NFC East produced three playoff teams in 2022. The Washington Commanders were the fourth team, the lone franchise in the NFC East not to make the playoffs.
As Ron Rivera and company look to improve upon a 8-8-1 season and reach the playoffs in 2023, they used their first-round pick on cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, selecting the Mississippi State product with the 16th overall pick.
Here's a look at what grades various experts gave to the Commanders for making Forbes the first cornerback selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Of the four experts mentioned here, Prisco is the highest on Forbes. He seems to believe that Forbes can overcome concerns about being underweight because he's 6-foot-1 and "will throw his body around."
Reuter notes that Forbes has tremendous ball skills, but just wonders whether he is thick enough at 166 pounds to consistently be effective against some of the league's top wide receivers.
Joseph Acosta of SB Nation: B-
Among cornerbacks, Acosta was higher on Christian Gonzalez, who went a pick later to the New England Patriots. But while he says Forbes is "166 pounds soaking wet and probably only works in an off-coverage defensive scheme," he likes Forbes' fit in Rivera's defense. You just wonder if new ownership makes a regime change after the 2023 season, what that will mean for Forbes.
Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News: C
Iyer doesn't seem to dislike Forbes, but he says the Commanders "reached a bit" in taking him with this selection, especially given that none of the other top prospects at the position had been selected yet.
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