Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

NFL futures: The case for Emmanuel Forbes winning Defensive Rookie of the Year

By Griffin Carroll | Last updated 8/18/23

We had a corner win Defensive Rookie of the Year last season, and there are a few intriguing CB candidates who could follow that up in 2023. One such option is Emmanuel Forbes, who could pile up some stats in Year 1 with Washington.

Emmanuel Forbes: +2000 to win DROY (DraftKings)

The knock on Emmanuel Forbes is his thin frame, but beyond that, Forbes has a chance to immediately become one of the more notable defensive playmakers in the NFL.

At Mississippi State, Forbes intercepted 14 passes, returning six for touchdowns. Those six pick-sixes set an FBS record for a career, and it garnered him second-team All-American in his final season at school.

At 6-foot-1, running a 4.35 40-yard dash, Forbes has the length and speed to keep pace with top receivers, and if quarterbacks challenge the rookie early, he could start racking up interceptions. If Forbes gets the ball in his hands and does what he does best in returning them for touchdowns, it's easy to envision a path forward to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Forbes joins a Washington defense that ranked ninth last season in Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA). They have an elite defensive line and strong safeties, an ideal combination to elevate cornerback play. If the line pressures the QB into some errant or mistimed throws, and the safeties take away the deep part of the field, that leaves Forbes in a strong position to take advantage of any mistakes.

Forbes is projected to start from Day 1, and of the numerous CBs taken in the first round, he's one we're particularly high on.

Fellow Commander Terry McLaurin recently heaped praise on the rookie defensive back, discussing how Forbes has gotten better every day of camp.

Expect an active rookie season for Forbes, and at +2000, there's some solid value here in a player that makes things happen with the ball in his hands.

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