NFL Draft: Commanders Target Playmaking, Football Intelligence on Day 1

He wasn't the player we expected, but the Washington Commanders addressed their cornerback room on Day 1 with Emmanuel Forbes from Mississippi State.

ASHBURN, Va. -- Cornerback has been a popular position mocked to the Washington Commanders in the first round of many mock NFL Drafts from early January to late April. 

On Thursday night, with the 16th overall pick, they made good on that projection with Mississippi State's Emmanuel Forbes becoming the first Commanders cornerback selected in the first round since LaRon Landry in 2007.

"It was really exciting honestly," Forbes said about the moment he got the call from coach Ron Rivera. "Just knowing it's changing my life, helping me and my family out, and I'm just ready to get to work with the team."

If we're being honest, however, that excitement wasn't felt by the entirety of Washington's fan base. 

For months, Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez was the object of fan affection and any mock draft that projected Washington passing up the opportunity to add him to the roster was met with immediate disdain. 

But the Commanders believe they're getting a ball-hawk cornerback who had six interceptions in his final season with Mississippi State and five or more in two. 

His collegiate usage will project him to be an outside defender, meaning either third-year cornerback Benjamin St-Juste or veteran Kendall Fuller will likely move inside to man the slot. 

Of course, there are two more days of picks to come, so that position battle may get even more interesting as the rounds continue to progress.

From the sounds of it, Washington was willing to trade down, but the opportunity never came so they were more than happy to take Forbes where they did. 

And they'll look to stack more talent on top of this pick in hopes of finally turning the burgundy and gold into a force worth worrying about in today's NFL landscape.

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

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