Christian Gonzalez vs. Emmanuel Forbes: Did Commanders Make Mistake?

The Washington Commanders took a sleeper in Emmanuel Forbes one pick before the New England Patriots took top-graded Christian Gonzalez.

Jeremy Brener | Apr 27, 2023

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Washington Commanders

Many expected the Washington Commanders to target a cornerback with the No. 16 pick in the NFL Draft.

Fans and pundits alike saw Christian Gonzalez still on the board and thought the Commanders were about to get away with a steal. Many mock drafts had Gonzalez as a top-10 pick, unable for the Commanders to pick.

However, when Washington found itself on the clock, the team surprised many by passing on Gonzalez and opting for Mississippi State ball hawk Emmanuel Forbes. Gonzalez wouldn't wait much longer to hear his name called as the No. 17 pick in the draft made by the New England Patriots.

Forbes was a late riser, only appearing in the first round of mock drafts in recent weeks, and yet, he was the second cornerback off the board ahead of Gonzalez, who many tabbed as a higher pick.

Gonzalez is the typical NFL prototype for a cornerback. He is well-sized at 6-1, 197 pound, with the height and length to match up against opposing teams’ top receivers on the outside. Forbes will play in the slot, so the two are very different players.

Both players have potential to succeed in the NFL and each of them are in a position to shine in their respective defense.

Just hours after the draft, you can never tell if a team makes a mistake. The answer will likely not be known until years from now.

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Published Apr 27, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.