Commanders Rookie CB Emmanuel Forbes Draws Hall of Fame Comparison

Washington Commanders' defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer shed some light on why the team took cornerback Emmanuel Forbes in the first round of the NFL Draft.

There's no doubt that many watching the first round of the NFL Draft unfold were surprised when the Washington Commanders selected Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. 

With Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez widely considered one of the top two if not the best in this year's class of secondary players, when he was available at pick No. 16 outsiders felt the Commanders had won the lottery. 

And according to Washington defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer they still did when Forbes fell to them at the same spot.

"He's got that it factor," Vieselmeyer said. "And it's something the coach has seen before back when he was working for the Raiders in the final year of one of the greatest defensive back careers the NFL has ever seen. 

"When I was in Oakland I got to work with Charles Woodson," Vieselmeyer said. "The amazing thing is when the ball was in the air he became the receiver. I think that's one thing that Emmanuel does a great job with. Ball's up in the air, he doesn't panic...he finds the football."

There's no doubt Forbes was a takeaway machine in college as the NCAA record holder with six pick-six touchdowns in his career. 

But the concern about his entering the NFL was hitched to Forbes' size, or lack thereof. 

At the NFL Scouting Combine in late February he weighed in at just 166 pounds and is the lightest defensive back drafted since at least 2000. 

In fact, according to Stathead Football, he's the only cornerback drafted since 2000 who weighed in under 170 pounds at the scouting event. 

But as Forbes said in his Zoom meeting with the media following the selection, "They didn't have a problem with it, that's why they drafted me."

His position coach echoed the same sentiment. 

"First of all our scouts and all those guys do a good job. They do a good job with all the body tests and all those things," said Vieselmeyer. "In three years I don't think he missed a game with an injury (while playing) in the toughest division. It's not like he plays backing down from anything if you watch the film...They challenge him on perimeter screens and run at him, and the kid doesn't back down."

When the coach was jokingly asked to predict how many touchdowns the rookie would have this season for the Commanders he declined to put a number on it but did advise that fans coming to see him play bring their popcorn, because they're going to be in for a show. 

Forbes will get beat - all defensive backs do at some point - but the secondary coach is confident that when that time comes it won't be because of size, intelligence, or traits. 

It'll happen because today's receivers are great at what they do, and the NFL has designed the game to ensure defenders in Washington and across the league can't stop everything that comes their way. 

But if you're going to face great receivers every week then you better have great defensive backs, and after working with one of the best to ever do it in Oakland, coach Vieselmeyer is confident they've found a similar type of talent to play for the Commanders.

Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.

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