Tag: Emmanuel Forbes

Which UDFA is most likely to make the Commanders’ 53-man roster?

Which undrafted rookie has the best chance of earning a roster spot?

It’s been a busy offseason for the Washington Commanders. In addition to hiring a new general manager (Adam Peters) and head coach (Dan Quinn), the team was busy with free agency and the NFL draft.

Washington signed over 20 outside free agents, selected nine players in the draft and signed 11 undrafted free agents. That’s a lot of turnover in one offseason, but it was needed after a disastrous 4-13 season.

The Commanders entered the offseason needing help almost everywhere. Quarterback and offensive tackle were the most talked-about positions, but cornerback was also needed.

Washington selected Emmanuel Forbes in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. Forbes’s rookie season was disastrous. He was benched multiple times after being beaten badly. However, in fairness to Forbes, he didn’t necessarily have great coaching.

That will change now with Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. While there is optimism that the new coaching staff will help Forbes, the Commanders still needed reinforcements at cornerback. Washington signed multiple veterans to compete in training camp and used a second-round pick on Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil.

Sainristil almost immediately becomes the Commaders’ starting slot cornerback.

Washington signed former Colorado State cornerback Chigozie Anusiem in undrafted free agency. Anusiem began his career at Cal and spent his final two seasons with Colorado State. Many were surprised he wasn’t drafted as Anusiem is 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, with long arms and speed.

Anusiem was a hot commodity after the NFL draft, as nearly half the league tried to sign him.

With all of these factors in mind, you’d think Anusiem has a great shot at making Washington’s 53-man roster.

Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report recently named one undrafted free agent from every team that he believes is most likely to make the initial 53-man roster.

Fowler chose Anusiem.

A long and physical corner, Chigozie Anusiem fits the mold of what new Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn covets in his perimeter defenders. He’s built eerily similar to the corners already in Washington.

Anusiem’s ability to seamlessly work downhill as a Cover 3 corner should give him a floor for success in the NFL.

Questions still remain about Benjamin St-Juste and 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes, so a solid showing this summer could help Anusiem suit up in a key rotational role for Washington this fall.

This isn’t like past regimes, where coaches or executives kept a player on the roster because of their draft status or how much money they were owed. Under Peters and Quinn, the best players will make the roster. And there’s a good chance they believe Anusiem is one of their best defensive backs once the pads go on this summer.

Commanders fare poorly in 2023 NFL draft re-grade

The early returns aren’t good for Washington, but a new regime brings hope.

Ron Rivera’s final season in charge of the Washington Commanders was horrendous. The Commanders finished 4-13 and fielded the NFL’s worst defenses, and Rivera was relieved of his duties in January.

Rivera’s final legacy with Washington is his 2023 NFL draft class. The early returns aren’t good. Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, the Commanders’ first-round pick, was benched twice. Second-round pick Quan Martin showed flashes when he was allowed to play, while third-round pick Ricky Stromberg barely played, made no impact and missed the second half of the season with an injury.

Fourth-round pick Braeden Daniels likely wasn’t making the team out of training camp and was placed on injured reserve. Fifth-round pick K.J. Henry showed promise in the second half of the season, while sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. thrived in a limited role. Finally, seventh-round selection Andre Jones Jr. didn’t do much but has tools.

So, if we graded this class after one year, it wouldn’t be a passing grade.

Diante Lee of The Athletic recently regraded the entire 2023 NFL draft, assigning grades to all 32 NFL teams. Lee placed Washington under the final category: A step backward/Incomplete. Only three teams were in this category, and Lee offered the following analysis:

Washington Commanders: D-minus

Emmanuel Forbes (No. 16) had some rough moments, to the point that he was benched during the 2023 season. Safety Quan Martin (No. 47) played in the slot by necessity as a rookie, but it’s not clear if that’s the best spot for him in Dan Quinn’s defense. After trading away two starting edge rushers last year, this team cannot afford to have its early picks sitting on the bench.

That’s a deserving grade. We could make the case you could give Washington an F. The good news here is that new head coach Dan Quinn brings hope. Quinn hired an all-star staff, including new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., known for his work with defensive backs. That’s good news for Forbes and Martin.

If Forbes and Martin turn out to be hits, while others, like Henry and Rodriguez, can carve out roles, this draft will not look nearly as bad in a couple of years.

Commanders sign former Chargers cornerback Michael Davis

Michael Davis spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Chargers.

Heading into the weekend, the Washington Commanders had signed 14 outside free agents but had to address two critical positions: Cornerback and offensive tackle.

On Sunday, the Commanders signed former Dolphins first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene to a one-year deal. Igbinoghene spent last season with Dan Quinn and the Cowboys. While he’s considered a depth signing, there’s hope that the 24-year-old can still fulfill his potential.

On Monday, Washington general manager Adam Peters continued adding to the cornerback room, signing former Chargers cornerback Michael Davis to a one-year deal.

Davis, 29, is entering his eighth NFL season in 2024, having spent the first seven years with the Chargers. An undrafted free agent out of BYU in 2017, Davis has appeared in 107 career games with 74 starts. The 6-foot-2 cornerback has 349 career tackles, 69 passes defended and eight interceptions.

The signings of Igbinoghene and Davis do not prevent the Commanders from addressing the position in the draft but does give Washington some veteran depth with Kendall Fuller gone. The Commanders’ top two cornerbacks are currently 2021 third-round pick Benjamin St-Juste and 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes.

2 recently released cornerbacks named as possible fits for the Commanders

Two veteran cornerbacks were named as potential fits for the Commanders, including one of the NFL’s best in recent years.

How will the Washington Commanders improve the cornerback position under new head coach Dan Quinn?

Washington spent a first-round pick on cornerback Emmanuel Forbes in the 2023 NFL draft, and he struggled. Third-year cornerback Benjamin St-Juste took a step back in 2023 after a promising second season.

As he had been for the previous three seasons, veteran Kendall Fuller remained the Commanders’ top cornerback.

Now, Fuller is a free agent. He’s also 29, and his knee has some injury concerns. Additionally, Fuller wants a raise from the $10 million he earned annually over the past four seasons, and that raise would be warranted. While the Commanders would love to keep Fuller, he likely makes more sense for a contender on a short-term deal.

Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. come from Dallas, where a Cowboys cornerback led the NFL in interceptions in two of the previous three years. DaRon Bland set an NFL record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns in a single season.

Whitt and secondary coach Tom Donatell’s primary goal is to fix Forbes. In his introductory press conference, Whitt said he liked Forbes coming out in last year’s draft.

Regardless, the Commanders must bring in veteran help. Some options exist depending on how much Washington wants to pay.

CBS Sports named 10 recent salary cap casualties and where they could best fit. Two cornerbacks, including Xavien Howard, were named potential fits for the Commanders.

Cornerback is a premier position in today’s NFL, and Howard has been one of the best for years now. He turns 31 in July, but is a four-time Pro Bowler and led the league in interceptions twice — including a 10-interception campaign in 2020. Howard’s streak of three straight Pro Bowls was snapped this past season, but he still recorded 12 passes defensed and one interception in 13 games played.

Howard seems like a long shot for Washington. He will probably earn more than the Commanders are willing to pay. General manager Adam Peters and Quinn will likely target a cheaper veteran and use the draft to add another corner as high as the second round. 

The other potential target was Darious Williams, recently released by the Jaguars.

One of the more underrated cap casualties so far. Williams was set to enter the final season of a three-year, $30 million contract with the Jags. He didn’t have any guaranteed money left on his deal, and his release saves Jacksonville $11.5 million against the cap. While Williams turns 31 this month, he tied for the team lead in interceptions this past season with four. He will absolutely have a market.

Williams is absolutely the type of player Washington could target on a one- or two-year deal with the Commanders.

Washington will be active in free agency, but don’t expect the Commanders to go big-game hunting, instead focusing on team fits and familiarity.

Could the Commanders be interested in a pair of recently released cornerbacks?

Two veteran cornerbacks were released on Friday. Could either help the Commanders in 2024?

Christmas came early for all 32 NFL teams Friday when the league revealed the 2024 salary cap would be $255.4 million — an increase of $30 million from 2023.

Not only does the higher cap give teams more cash to spend in free agency next month, but it also helps some of those teams needing to create cap space ahead of the new league year.

Some of those teams needing to clear began releasing players this week in preparation for free agency. One of the NFL’s top cornerbacks, Xavien Howard, was released by the Miami Dolphins Friday.

Howard, who will turn 31 in July, was slated to count over $25 million against Miami’s salary cap in 2024. He spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the Dolphins, is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, and has led the NFL in interceptions twice.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Howard can still play. He will receive significant interest from around the NFL. Howard played in 13 games last season but scored the lowest grade of his career, according to Pro Football Focus (55.1).

The Washington Commanders need help at cornerback. Kendall Fuller is a free agent, and Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste struggled in 2023.

Does Howard make sense for Washington?

No, for multiple reasons. First, his age. While a different player than Fuller, Howard is almost two years older than Fuller. Also, he doesn’t offer the versatility that Fuller does. Fuller can play outside, in the slot, or at safety. The Commanders could bring Fuller back for what Howard would cost.

But there was another recently released cornerback who could help Washington.

The San Francisco 49ers released cornerback Isaiah Oliver on Friday. Oliver, 27, spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons before spending the 2023 season in San Francisco. New Washington head coach Dan Quinn in Atlanta drafted him. Oliver played for Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. in 2020.

The 6-foot-0, 210-pound Oliver isn’t Howard, but he could provide much-needed veteran depth and stability to the cornerback room. In addition to Quinn and Whitt, Commanders GM Adam Peters was San Francisco’s assistant GM last season. Also, new defensive line coach Darryl Tapp was with the 49ers last season, too.

Oliver would be a cheap addition to the secondary and wouldn’t make a dent in Washington’s NFL-leading salary cap space. Per PFF, he received a 67.6 grade in 2023.

The good news is there are enough voices in the organization to know if Oliver would be a worthwhile addition for 2024.

The Commanders will add to the cornerback room, likely through free agency and the draft. St-Juste and Forbes remain an integral part of Washington’s plans, but after last season, the Commanders shouldn’t count on either.

Commanders’ rookie class ranked 31st by NFL.com

The early returns for Washington’s draft class aren’t good.

The Washington Commanders finished 4-13 in 2023, with head coach Ron Rivera losing his job last month. With new ownership and three consecutive non-winning seasons, Rivera entered his fourth season in Washington on the hot seat. He didn’t help himself with a miserable 2023 offseason.

The Commanders’ most significant move in free agency was re-signing defensive tackle Daron Payne to a new four-year deal. That was the right move. However, to fix Washington’s beleaguered offensive line, Rivera chose to sign Nick Gates to a three-year as the new center and Andrew Wylie to a two-year contract to play right tackle.

In the 2023 NFL draft, Rivera gambled on cornerback Emmanuel Forbes with his first-round pick and doubled down on defensive back Quan Martin in the second round.

The remainder of Washington’s draft was spent on developmental players.

While it’s impossible to fully evaluate a draft class after one season, Eric Edholm and Chad Reuter of NFL.com ranked all 32 2023 NFL draft classes, giving each class a letter grade.

As expected, the Commanders faired poorly, coming in at 31st with a D+ grade.

The Commanders used their first two picks on DBs, and both had their share of struggles as rookies. Forbes was a playmaking artist in college, but that skill didn’t translate readily in Year 1, as he was repeatedly picked on early in the season (miscast in a zone-heavy defense) and stripped of his starting role. His best moments — and Forbes had a few — tended to come against lesser offenses. It seems clear he’ll face a big offseason with Dan Quinn and the next coaching staff.

Martin earned the nickel role down the stretch, and he spent some time at safety, too, much like he did in college. Finding the right spot for him in a new defense will be interesting. Martin also could project to be a jack of all trades capable of playing multiple roles.

Henry got his chance following the trades of Chase Young and Montez Sweat, logging some eye-opening snaps along the way. The body of work as an every-down player remains incomplete, but Henry could make it as a rotational rusher next season. Jones also saw a late-season uptick in playing time, albeit with fewer flash plays.

Washington could have used OL help but received almost nada from Stromberg and Daniels as rookies. Stromberg played 26 snaps of mop-up time, and Daniels landed on IR after struggling in camp and preseason. Their futures seemingly remain very much up in the air, especially with the new Quinn regime in town.

If there was a rookie bright spot, it was Rodriguez, who averaged 4.8 yards per carry and established himself as an angry, forceful runner in spite of being overlooked much of the season. He logged a long carry of at least 11 yards in each of his final five games and could be a first- and second-down tone-setter if he can avoid injuries.

One of new head coach Dan Quinn’s top priorities will be restoring the confidence of Forbes. The good news is Quinn has hired a talented and experienced coaching staff on both sides of the ball.

How many ‘hits’ did the Commanders have in their 2023 NFL draft class?

How many “hits” did Washington have in last year’s draft? The new coaching staff could change the fortunes of several players.

There were questions when the Washington Commanders selected Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes over Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez at No. 16 overall in the 2023 NFL draft.

It’s not as if teams didn’t like Forbes. Several teams and draft analysts raved about Forbes, specifically his ball skills. Forbes set an FBS record with six interceptions returned for touchdowns in his three-year college career. And, playing in the SEC, Forbes routinely played against college football’s top wide receivers.

However, teams were concerned about Forbes’ slight frame.

With their second-round pick, the Commanders doubled down in the secondary, selecting the versatile Quan Martin of Illinois. Martin could play everywhere in the secondary and was seen as a valuable second-round pick, but Washington was criticized for not focusing on other need areas, such as the offensive line.

After one NFL season, there are many questions about Forbes, not so much about Martin. Forbes showed signs of flashes, but in a Week 4 loss to the Eagles, Washington’s coaches kept him in a one-on-one matchup against Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown. Brown continuously beat Forbes. The following week, D.J. Moore of the Chicago Bears did the same thing to the rookie.

Forbes was benched. He returned, was benched again and returned again. The former coaching staff did nothing for Forbes. Washington’s former defensive coordinator (Jack Del Rio) and defensive backs coach (Brent Vieselmeyer) were fired after a Thanksgiving blowout loss at Dallas.

Martin showed flashes throughout the second half of the season and looks to have a bright future under Washington’s new coaching staff.

New defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. mentioned Forbes and Martin as players he liked coming out of last year’s draft.

Outside of Forbes and Martin, the Commanders had five other draft picks. Only two gave them much of anything last season: Fifth-round DE K.J. Henry and sixth-round RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.

CBS Sports NFL draft expert Chris Trapasso recently analyzed each 2023 draft class by the number of “hits” each team had after one season.

Washington had one: Rodriguez.

It clearly wasn’t a high-volume role for Rodriguez as a rookie, but he nearly averaged five yards per tote and forced an impressive 12 missed tackles on his 51 carries. Other than Rodriguez, the Washington 2023 draft class was essentially non-existent, and first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes was a liability in coverage.

He’s not wrong. Rodriguez routinely displayed his ability in limited opportunities. As for Martin, we’d call him a “hit,” but we can also understand the jury remains out.

This draft class will always be remembered for Forbes. As other rookie cornerbacks saw more immediate success than Forbes, his selection will be criticized. However, no one should write him off. He had one bad season with an underperforming, lame-duck coaching staff.

New head coach Dan Quinn, Whitt, defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons and veteran assistant John Pagano bring plenty of NFL experience to Washington’s staff in 2024. Forbes, Martin and others should benefit from a much better coaching staff next season.

Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. is a big fan of cornerback Emmanuel Forbes

The new defensive coordinator is a fan of Emmanuel Forbes and Quan Martin.

Washington Commanders rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes had a disastrous rookie season in 2023. The No. 16 overall pick was embarrassed early in the season, lost his confidence and was benched.

Forbes returned and played well. Until he struggled again. And instead of allowing Forbes to play through his struggles, Washington’s previous staff — that had to have Forbes over other higher-rated cornerbacks — kept him on the bench.

The changes began after Thanksgiving when the Commanders fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer. Last month, Washington fired head coach Ron Rivera.

Now, one month later, the Commanders look completely different under new head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.

Quinn and Whitt came from Dallas, where two different cornerbacks led the NFL in interceptions in two of the past three seasons.

So, for those of you ready to give up on Forbes — just wait.

In his introductory press conference on Thursday, Whitt was asked about Forbes specifically.

“I really liked Forbes when he came out, and not only Forbes, I like Quan (Martin),” Whitt said. Martin was Washington’s second-round pick who improved throughout last season and has a bright future.

“And you know, they have a number of guys on that backend that are really intriguing. And the thing that we have to do, that’s why we brought (defensive pass game coordinator) Jason Simmons in and (defensive backs coach) Tommy Donatell, to get those guys in and to believe in the techniques that we’re going to teach ’em and the scheme that we’re going to put them in. But we have quality young players here. We are just ready to get to work with them.”

Forbes should be excited. Whitt has developed some outstanding players over the last 15 seasons with Green Bay, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Dallas. Simmons is a 10-year NFL veteran who worked with Whitt when he first began his coaching career in Green Bay and has also had stops in Carolina and Las Vegas.

Donatell is a young coach who can relate to younger players. In recent years, he has worked with Chargers’ All-Pro safety Derwin James. The Commanders also hired veteran defensive assistant John Pagano, who has a history of leading successful defenses and is known for his work with defensive backs.

Quinn has committed to not only bringing in better players but also improving the talent Washington has on the current roster. The different voices will be a positive change for Forbes and others after a tumultuous 2023 season.

Quinn, Whitt and general manager Adam Peters knew they couldn’t replace every player on the roster. The goal was to hire a strong staff built on teaching the fundamentals and leadership that would change the fortunes of some young players, specifically Forbes.

Forbes shared his excitement on Twitter when Quinn was announced as the head coach. If he was listening to Whitt’s opening press conference, he should be elated. If Forbes buys in — and there’s no reason to believe he won’t — he could be in store for a massive turnaround in 2024.

 

6 Commanders’ players who will benefit the most from a coaching change

These players will benefit from Washington’s coaching changes.

The Washington Commanders look a lot different now than they did one month ago. Sure, the roster hasn’t changed yet, but beginning with new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, Washington’s vision is beginning to take shape.

The day after Quinn’s hiring became official, we learned who would lead the Commanders’ offense and defense. Washington hired former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator, while Joe Whitt Jr. followed Quinn from Dallas to be his defensive coordinator.

Quinn’s coordinator hirings drew praise from around the league.

From their responses on social media, some Washington players appear to be happy with the coaching moves.

We look at six players who will benefit the most from the coaching moves.

Grading each rookie from the Commanders’ 2023 draft class

We grade Washington’s 2023 NFL draft after one season. The early returns, well, they aren’t good.

The Washington Commanders finished the 2023 season with a 4-13 record. Head coach Ron Rivera was fired after four consecutive non-winning seasons.

The 2023 was a disaster from start to finish. Sure, there were some cool moments in September, but Washington’s flaws were evident beginning in Week 1.

The 2023 NFL draft class’s lack of production was a big reason for Washington’s struggles. First-round pick Emmanuel Forbes’ performance reflected the team’s season.

How did each of the Commanders’ seven picks grade out?

We grade Washington’s 2023 NFL draft class.