Category: Latest Washington News

Commanders CB Emmanuel Forbes disrespected on potential DROY list

Could Forbes emerge as a potential DROY candidate in 2023?

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No player in FBS college football history has more interceptions returned for touchdowns than former Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. Forbes had 14 interceptions in three collegiate seasons, returning six for touchdowns.

The Washington Commanders were so enamored with Forbes that they selected him at No. 16 overall in the 2023 NFL draft and considered moving up to select Forbes.

Could Forbes parlay that collegiate success into a successful rookie season? And, if so, what’s his ceiling for 2023? If Forbes does produce as a rookie, could he be a contender for NFL defensive rookie of the Year?

CBS Sports recently named eight rookies who could win the NFL defensive rookie of the year award — Forbes was not on the list.

The cornerback selected below Forbes, Christian Gonzalez, came in at No. 1 on the list. Like any list, this is subjective, but how can you not watch Forbes’ college tape and see a player who could change games as a rookie?

Another cornerback drafted below Forbes — Joey Porter Jr. in the second round — came in at No. 3.

For a cornerback to win DROY, he needs interceptions. Porter had one interception in four college seasons. Gonzalez had four, all of which came in 2022.

Let us remind you again, Forbes had 14 in three seasons — playing in the SEC.

Whether Forbes makes the top eight of a subjective list or wins a rookie of the year award, the Commanders couldn’t be happier to have landed Forbes.

Where do the Commanders fit in SI’s 100 predictions for the 2023 season?

What are some bold predictions for the Commanders in 2023?

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So, if you had to make 100 predictions, 100 days prior to the start of the 2023 NFL season, what do you think you would predict?

Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated took to the task last week and listed his top 100 predictions for the 2023 NFL season.

Before we get to the Commanders, here are five of Orr’s predictions. 1) Bengals and 49ers in the Super Bowl, 2) Offensive Rookie of the Year will be Anthony Richardson,  3) Colts’ Shane Steichen will win the Coach of the Year award, 4) Christian McCaffrey will surpass 20 rushing touchdowns, 5) Kyler Murray will play fewer than seven games this season, and it will be his last year in Arizona.

Where did the Commanders fit into his 100 NFL predictions for 2023? Well, mostly not favorably, with a couple of exceptions. So, in the interest of Commanders fans, here is what Orr predicted for the Commanders in 2023.

Orr stated initially, he thought of predicting “two teams that I absolutely don’t want to see there” (Super Bowl), so he suggested the Commanders and the Browns.

At No. 32, Orr predicts, “Chase Young will not finish the season as a member of the Commanders“.  He pointed to Young not doing anything since his rookie season and how the Commanders did not offer him the fifth-year option. He then takes a jab at the organization, stating, “Leaving the Commanders is a bit like getting out of the dentist’s office. Your whole perception on life changes.”

Some good news for the Commanders comes in at No. 60 when he predicts, “Commanders rookie Emmanuel Forbes will have multiple pick-sixes.” He explains his prediction:

Forbes is so fast off the line of scrimmage and despite his slender frame will be ideal at picking off bubble screens and other quick throws. The No. 16 pick has explosive speed (4.35 in the 40 at the combine) and—bonus prediction—on one of those pick-sixes he will become the fastest ballcarrier of the year in terms of miles per hour (tracked by NFL Next Gen Stats).

Orr gives the Commanders offense some good vibes at No. 95 when he predicts, “Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. will rush for more than 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns.”

Robinson, who was a third-round pick in 2022, played in 12 games after recovering from a gunshot wound before the start of his rookie season. He managed 797 yards and three total touchdowns.

Commanders Sam Howell makes ‘make or break’ list for 2023

Is Sam Howell’s first season as a starting quarterback a make or break season?

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So, which quarterbacks in the NFL have everything at stake for them in 2023? In other words, which quarterbacks are in a “make or break” year in 2023?

NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks published a list of nine quarterbacks he believes are in such a situation, and of interest to Commanders fans are two of the quarterbacks making his list.

Sam Howell has only played one game, the 2022 season finale 26-6 home win over the Dallas Cowboys. Brooks goes as far as to question the wisdom of Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, taking a jab at Rivera:

Credit Ron Rivera and Co. for putting their fate in the hands of a second-year pro with a single start on his résumé.

Brooks appears to continue with another sarcastic jab when he declares, “Howell certainly flashed solid skills as a game manager” in the win over Dallas. Certainly, Brooks is correct when he offered, “It is impossible to know if the North Carolina product is going to be the guy until he plays a full slate of games.”

With Rivera hiring former Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Brooks believes that the pressure is on Howell to show up and show out with a supporting cast that includes talented receiving trio Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel.”

So basically, Brooks believes Sam Howell is only deserving of one year of opportunity to prove himself as an NFL quarterback? That certainly was not the case for many NFL quarterbacks, who may struggle a year or even two before maturing into fine quarterbacks.

Take, for instance, former Washington starter Kirk Cousins. Cousins struggled at times, being up and down in 2013 and the 2014 season. However, by training camp of the 2015 season, coaches and players could see Cousins was better than Robert Griffin and Colt McCoy.

Cousins would go on to lead Washington to two winning seasons in 2015 (9-7) and 2016 (8-7-1). Critics will cry out those are barely winning records. Well, of course, they are barely winning records, duh.

However, isn’t it also just as true and just as much a part of the historical record that those two seasons with Cousins the starter, are the last winning seasons Washington has enjoyed?

Isn’t it premature to declare this 2023 season a “make or break” season for Sam Howell?

Who are the Commanders’ top 3 players for the 2023 NFL season?

Who are your top three players for the Commanders in 2023?

Who would you say are the Washington Commanders’ top three players? Any debate about Washington’s top players starts with defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and wide receiver Terry McLaurin.

Those are the easy ones. Defensive tackle Daron Payne, especially based on last season, deserves a strong mention for that third spot.

Pro Football Focus recently named each team’s top three players for 2023. As expected, Allen and McLaurin topped the list for the Commanders. The third player was defensive end Montez Sweat.

In 2022, Payne was better than Sweat, but not by as much as you may think. Sweat was terrific last season, but people often focus too much on sack totals. Sweat was around the quarterback a lot last season and finished with eight sacks. His career high is nine, set in 2020. Sweat is a free agent in 2024 and while he’ll likely earn a big payday regardless, increasing his sack totals into double digits could make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive ends for 2024.

Here’s what PFF said:

Washington has plenty of young talent to lean on, starting with Terry McLaurin. He’s been steady with no receiving grades below 77.0 in his four-year career, notching an 85.0 figure this past season. Allen’s 80.1 overall grade marked the third straight season of positive play. And believe it or not, Sweat leads the team in cumulative defensive grade over the past three seasons, at 89.9.

The next three players PFF considered were safety Kamren Curl, Payne and defensive end Chase Young. Not sure how Young made this list unless PFF is basing it off potential alone. Young, Curl and Sweat are all free agents next offseason. The team would love to get Curl re-signed this offseason, but the ownership situation has that on pause. Sweat and Young are likely battling one another for a lucrative extension next offseason.

While he may not be the best player, quarterback Sam Howell is Washington’s most important player for 2023.

Who are your top three players for Washington?

 

Commanders’ Antonio Gibson: ‘I’m excited, but not just for me’

Don’t overlook Antonio Gibson in Washington’s offense in 2023.

Antonio Gibson rushed for over 1,000 yards in the 2021 season.

Last season he had to give way to rookie Brian Robinson Jr., who became the leading ball carrier. Gibson’s carries were reduced to 149, while Robinson ran 205 times. Consequently, Robinson gained 797 yards and Gibson 546.

What may be missed by many Commanders fans is Gibson was the third leading receiver on the team last season, behind only Terry McLaurin (77) and Curtis Samuel (64), bringing in 46 receptions in 2022.

106.7 The Fan reporter JP Finlay spoke briefly with Gibson Thursday. Here is the link for the segment.

How does Gibson feel about the new offense he was learning in voluntary workouts this past week? “I’m excited, but not just for me. I’m seeing a lot of things for a lot of guys that should open up. He moves us around; we have a lot of things going. ”

Gibson also likes what he saw out of Sam Howell, ” He looks nice. He looks really good. He looks confident, comfortable. He just has to keep competing.”

Following next week’s mandatory workouts, Gibson plans on taking his wife and three children to Hawaii for a little vacation before he has to buckle down for training camp.

In Kansas City last season, Bieniemy got the ball to running back Jerick McKinnon as he was targeted 71 times on passing plays for 56 receptions for 512 yards (9.1 yards per reception) and 9 receiving touchdowns.

Gibson, under the Scott Turner offense, quarterbacked by Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke last season, averaged 7.7 yards on his 46 receptions.

Already Gibson is optimistic because of what he has learned thus far in the Bieniemy offense. Might Gibson be getting the ball in space more often in 2023?

If so, no wonder Gibson is already excited.

How much dead money are the Commanders carrying on the salary cap in 2023?

The Commanders have five players with dead cap hits in 2023.

The Washington Commanders currently have $11.5 million in available salary cap space — per Over the Cap — since the team designated Chase Roullier as a post-June 1 cut.

That gives the Commanders plenty of room to sign first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes and second-round pick Quan Martin while also perhaps adding another veteran on the offensive line or at linebacker. Washington has signed the remainder of its draft class.

The Commanders will also add more to their cap when they eventually release guard Andrew Norwell. While that’s not official, the team can’t cut Norwell now because he is injured.

A part of Washington’s cap space for 2023 is occupied by players no longer on the roster. In total, the Commanders are carrying over $23 million in dead money on the salary cap in 2023.

Here are those five players and their cap hits in 2023.

WATCH: Some of Sonny Jurgensen’s best throws

Sonny was ahead of his time.

When you think of some of the best players and most influential figures of the Washington NFL franchise’s 90-year history, quarterback Sonny Jurgensen is one of the first names that comes to mind.

Jurgensen began his career up north with the hated Philadelphia Eagles, where he played for seven seasons. He was traded to Washington in 1964, and the rest is history. Jurgensen played 11 seasons for the then-Redskins, finishing his career with 255 touchdowns and a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

When Jurgensen was done playing, he’d move into the broadcast booth, eventually teaming with fellow Hall of Famer Sam Huff and Frank Herzog to form a legendary trio that called games during the franchise’s glory years. Jurgensen retired from the broadcast booth in 2019.

The team finally retired Jurgensen’s number during Washington’s Week 18 win over the Dallas Cowboys in January.

On Friday, the official NFL Twitter account shared a video of Jurgensen, showing some of the best passes of his legendary career. Check out the first pass.

Talk to any old-school Washington fan, and you’ll come away with a better understanding of Jurgensen’s greatness. How many quarterbacks could do what Jurgensen could do during that era? Not many.

It’s always a good day to celebrate Sonny Jurgensen.

Jack Del Rio is ‘fired up’ about the Commanders adding Emmanuel Forbes

Del Rio can’t contain his excitement regarding Forbes.

Suppose you doubted how much the Washington Commanders loved former Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes before the 2023 NFL draft. In that case, you should check out Commanders Log, Episode 4, on the team’s official website.

The Commanders liked Forbes so much that they considered moving up in the draft to select him. Head coach Ron Rivera decided to stand pat, and Forbes fell in Washington’s laps at No. 16.

Everyone was happy. Sure, anytime the TV shows a team’s war room, you see the customary hugs, smiles, handshakes and back-slapping, but for Washington, it was real. The episode detailed the Commanders’ process with Forbes, from interviewing him at the NFL combine to his flying to Washington after the draft to meet coaches and fans.

One of the most happy folks in Washington was defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. Rivera sought out Del Rio to inform him that Forbes was the pick, and Del Rio was elated.

At this week’s OTAs, Del Rio spoke to the media, and the first question he received was about Forbes.

“Really fired up about getting him, adding him to the squad,” Del Rio said. “I think he’s a tremendous football player. You know, he’s fast. He’s got great ball skills. He’s very bright, and he played against some of the best competition that you can in the SEC and held up week in and week out was a playmaker. Very productive. So happy to get ’em.”

Del Rio isn’t often this effusive in his praise of a rookie.

Starting at the rookie minicamp last month, Forbes made his presence known, and that’s continued throughout OTAs. The Commanders have worked Forbes some inside this week, but make no mistake; his NFL future is at outside cornerback.

What is next on the Commanders offseason schedule?

Next week is a big one for the Commanders.

This next week [June 6-8] marks another important event in the Washington Commanders 2023 offseason.

The Commanders’ mandatory minicamp is slated for Tuesday through Thursday, with the operative word no doubt being “mandatory.”

Since the NFL draft was held in Kansas City, April 26-28, the Commanders have conducted a rookie minicamp and two weeks of voluntary Organized Team Activity (OTA) workouts for the entire 90-man roster.

The biggest headlines appear to have been that new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy “is loud when yelling at the offense” (Kam Curl), that Sam Howell has exhibited some progress in his learning the new offensive system, and that three veterans skipped the voluntary workouts (Chase Young, Montez Sweat, and Charles Leno).

More than one observer has noted that Howell has exhibited some passing abilities the team has not enjoyed since the Kirk Cousins years of 2015-17. But some of the same people have also noted there have been times several defensive players are getting their hands on passes in the workouts.

Rookie defenders Emmanuel Forbes and Quan Martin have both raised eyebrows, gaining the attention of onlookers when they have made some nice plays defending the pass.

Bieniemy is not only loud, but he is also in control. That is, observers say it is absolutely clear that Bieniemy is indeed the assistant head coach. He has been given the authority. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio volunteered Thursday that Bieniemy “is bringing an accountability to the unit”.

As for Young, Sweat and Leno? They not only skipped the first voluntary OTA workouts but also this week’s second OTA workouts. Giving all three the benefit of the doubt, we believe they will report to Tuesday’s mandatory workout.

Assuming they all three do participate next week, the most interesting interaction with the media may be how Young, Sweat and Leno respond to questions about why they chose to not participate with the 95% of their teammates who did choose of their own will to come voluntarily.

 

Report: Josh Harris to meet with NFL finance committee next week

Could the NFL owners look to approve Harris’ bid soon?

Could we finally be nearing an official end to Daniel Snyder’s tenure as owner of the Washington Commanders?

We know Snyder has a signed deal in place to sell the franchise to a group led by Josh Harris — owner of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. However, we also know the NFL has some concerns about Harris’ $6.05 billion bid, primarily due to the number of minority partners.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones each expect the deal to get done sooner rather than later.

How soon?

According to Nicki Jhabvala and Mark Maske of The Washington Post, Harris is expected to meet with the NFL’s finance committee next Wednesday, where he is expected to make any necessary adjustments to his bid for the Commanders.

After the NFL owners meetings last month, a target date emerged for a possible vote. Some believed the owners could bring Harris’ bid to a vote in either late July or August.

If Harris makes the necessary adjustments, at least in the eyes of the finance committee, could a vote come sooner?

Here’s this from Jhabvala and Maske:

Those assurances by Harris have buoyed optimism that Harris’s record-setting purchase of the Commanders from owner Daniel Snyder will be recommended by the finance committee and ratified by the owners in the coming weeks, according to those people.

While a firm date hasn’t been established, perhaps this quote could bring more confidence:

“It’s not done yet,” one of the sources told Jhabvala and Maske. “It’s not concluded. But it’s headed in that direction. It’s in that 90-percent-plus range now.”

At this point, Washington fans are tired of hearing that a sale is “coming soon.” Everyone knows it’s happening, and the hope is it will be before Week 1. Head coach Ron Rivera again confirmed this week that any big deals are on hold due to the ownership situation.

If the Commanders’ sale becomes official in the coming weeks, could Washington work to get some of its upcoming free agents, specifically safety Kamren Curl, signed to an extension?

It should be an interesting few weeks surrounding the Commanders as we enter a quiet period in the NFL later this month before teams report to training camp in late July.