It's only taken 3 phases of OTAs for Rams to raise expectations for this player

Is Emmanuel Forbes up to starting in 2025?

Currently listed on the Rams site at 6-foot-0 and 180 pounds, Emmanuel Forbes' draft profile listed him as 6-foot-1 and 166 pounds. That's a healthy bit of added muscle, which is vital to ensure Forbes can withstand the physicality of an NFL defensive back. But even those measurements may be outdated. Multiple accounts report that Forbes has shown up to OTAs looking more muscular and fit than he did when arriving last season.

And that has been confirmed by videos and still images that have emerged from Rams OTAs so far:

Some reports suggest that Forbes may have added up to 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason. IF true, that would have him at or around 200 pounds, which is a much better place to be for an NFL defensive back who stands 6 feet tall. But even if he is only tipping the scales at 190 pounds (which is a conservative estimate), that additional muscle mass will play a huge part in keeping him on the football field.

When the Commanders selected Forbes in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, many draft analysts viewed him as a reach. But when the Rams claimed him off waivers, he did not come at the cost of a draft pick. Rather, he had 1.5 years of NFL experience under his belt. So it made complete sense to give him a chance.

But perhaps Forbes has other ideas. He has already created tremendous buzz in Rams OTAs. But that is often the case for svelte, speedy players when the drills resemble flag football. It's when the pads go on, and the drills become far more physical that we will be able to see if Forbes can pass the muster.

It's quite clear that as soon as the Rams front office becomes aware of a shortfall in the team's depth chart, the front office springs immediately into action. The team wasted no time in responding to the disappointing news about LT Alaric Jackson. If the team can instantly sign veteran OT DJ Humphries so quickly, you can bet that the team would pull the trigger to trade for DB Jalen Ramsey if the team felt it necessary to do so.

The Rams are still early in offseason preparations, so you are well grounded to expect more moves from this team as Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season nears. Will the team trade for Jalen Ramsey? Will the team sign a fourth quarterback for training camp?

Stand by and wait. I hate to fall back on a cliche, but all good things come to those who wait. For Rams fans, the team may decide to boost this roster further. But it may take time to reach that decision. Until then, sit back and enjoy Emmanuel Forbes' surprisingly positive performance.

And as always, thanks for reading.

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