Why Emmanuel Forbes’ revival in Los Angeles says more about Washington than him

A few seasons ago, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. looked like one of the NFL’s biggest draft misfires. The 2023 first-round pick out of Mississippi State -- once heralded as one of the most prolific ballhawks in SEC history -- had become the symbol of the Washington Commanders' defensive dysfunction.

The story, at least in D.C., was simple: Forbes couldn’t play.

The wiry corner, known for his playmaking instincts and lean frame, never found his footing under then-head coach Ron Rivera’s staff.

He was benched multiple times as a rookie, shuffled in and out of lineups, and eventually became collateral damage in a franchise overhaul. When general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn arrived, their defensive blueprint didn’t include him. And by early 2025, Forbes was gone --written off as another Washington draft failure.

But football, as it often does, found a way to remind everyone that context matters.

A fresh start in Los Angeles

Now wearing blue and gold instead of burgundy and gold, Forbes is thriving. He’s not a star, but he’s playing meaningful football again -- and doing it on a defense that’s been the backbone of a young Rams team still sorting through its offensive identity.

Los Angeles’ front seven has improved markedly, with the pass rush and linebacker play taking pressure off the secondary. But at cornerback, you still live on an island. You still have to win in isolation, handle vertical stems, and play with confidence when the ball’s in the air.

And since Week 5, Forbes has quietly done exactly that.

Over his last five games, Forbes has allowed just eight completions on 17 targets (47%) for 97 total yards -- an average of fewer than 20 yards per game in coverage. It’s not elite shutdown production yet, but it’s consistent, disciplined, and confident football from a player who was once accused of lacking all three.

Why It’s Working Now

What’s changed isn’t just Forbes’ environment -- it’s the expectations within that environment. The Rams aren’t asking him to play heavy press-man every snap against elite size (see Forbes vs AJ Brown). They’re giving him zone-match opportunities, mixing coverages, and letting him use his eyes and instincts to drive on the football. In layman's terms, they're allowing Forbes to be Forbes, and not forcing a square peg into a round hole.

Forbes has always thrived when he can see and react. At Mississippi State, he intercepted 14 passes, returning six for touchdowns -- an FBS record. His anticipation was his superpower. But in Washington, scheme and situation dulled that strength. The defense was chaotic, the pass rush inconsistent, and confidence quickly eroded in both directions.

Now, with Chris Shula coordinating a system that leverages his range and reaction time, Forbes looks like the player scouts once believed he could become. He’s breaking on routes with timing. He’s tackling with better leverage. And, maybe most importantly, he’s trusting himself again.

The Bigger Story: Development and Fit

Forbes’ turnaround isn’t just a personal success story -- it’s a reflection of a broader truth about player development in the NFL. Drafting talent is only half the battle. Knowing how to use it is the rest.

Washington’s struggles in that department have been glaring for decades, but specifically in 2025, with QB Jayden Daniels in and out of the lineup all year to mask inefficiencies. Through ten weeks, the Commanders own one of football's worst defenses, allowing 28.8 points a game, and have now lost four straight by at least 21 -- the first team to do that since the 2002 Arizona Cardinals.

Was Forbes ever the problem? Or was the problem Washington’s inability to coach, develop, and adapt?

Too often, young players are written off before they ever get the right structure. For NFL corners in particular -- where confidence, repetition, and situational awareness matter just as much as raw ability -- the difference between “bust” and “breakout” can hinge entirely on coaching and scheme.

A Second Chance, Earned

Forbes isn’t rewriting his career overnight. But he’s rebuilding it -- one snap at a time. The Rams have found ways to simplify his responsibilities while maximizing his strengths. He’s tackling better, trusting his eyes, and holding up against physical receivers in ways he simply didn’t before.

And as the Commanders continue to spiral defensively, it’s hard not to look west and wonder if Forbes’ success is as much an indictment of Washington as it is a credit to Los Angeles.

Because sometimes, a player doesn’t change -- the situation does.

And in 2025, that’s the story of Forbes.