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Commanders Take Lions DB in 2023 NFL Redraft

The Washington Commanders may have selected the wrong defensive back in last year's draft.

Jeremy Brener

Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) breaks a pass intended for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) breaks a pass intended for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, September 8, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The Washington Commanders haven't gotten a lot of production from last year's No. 16 overall pick Emmanuel Forbes.

That's why Bleacher Report writer Kristopher Knox now has Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch mocked to them in a 2023 redraft.

"The Washington Commanders used the 16th pick on cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, who has since played well below his draft status," Knox writes. "Forbes allowed an opposing passer rating of 103.0 as a rookie, was benched in Week 1 of this season and is now recovering from thumb surgery. Here, the Commanders pivot to safety Brian Branch, a second-round pick of the Lions. The former Alabama playmaker was a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate and would bolster Washington's lackluster secondary in a big way."

READ MORE: Commanders Fill Major Need in Mock Draft

Branch, 22, was taken with the No. 45 overall pick by the Lions, and he has been a force since entering the league. He already has 87 tackles in his career compared to 42 from Forbes. He also has four interceptions while Forbes has just one.

The Commanders are rebuilding their secondary and defense with coach Dan Quinn at the helm, so they cannot go back in time and fix this potential mistake. All they can do is hope Forbes shows the potential that made him go at No. 16 or find his replacement in the coming drafts.

READ MORE: Cowboys Sign Commanders Practice Squad DT

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.

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Jeremy Brener
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.

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