Is Emmanuel Forbes Lions' CB of the Future?

All Lions scouting report on Mississippi State Bulldogs cornerback Emmanuel Forbes.

The Detroit Lions have made the cornerback position a priority throughout the 2023 NFL offseason.

Detroit general manager Brad Holmes signed two marquee players at the position in Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley. That duo will compete with Detroit’s incumbent players to start, heading into the 2023 season.

Each addition at the position is necessary, as the Lions have lacked reliable cornerback depth in recent years. Because the team needs depth, it may not be done adding players at the position, either.

The 2023 NFL Draft offers several solutions. It’s a deep class of talented cornerbacks, headlined by Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez. If the Lions elect to pass on taking a cornerback early in the draft, Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes could be a Day 2 solution.

There’s been some momentum on the pairing between the Lions and Forbes. The two parties are set to meet on a top-30 pre-draft visit. He met with the team informally at the NFL Scouting Combine, as well.

In three seasons, he established himself as a takeaway artist. He currently owns the FBS record for defensive touchdowns with six. He leaves Mississippi State as the program's active leader in career interceptions with 14.

This knack for finding the ball is a trait the Lions like to have in their secondary. Holmes set a precedent for this when he selected Kerby Joseph in the third round last year, after the Illinois product had five interceptions in 2021.

Detroit coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn made an emphasis on creating takeaways during the second half of the 2022 season, which played a big role in the team ultimately finishing with a winning record.

With such talent in coverage, Forbes projects as an asset on any defense where he lands. He's deceptive in coverage, often baiting quarterbacks to make mistakes. 

“Forbes is long, can run and has a talent for taking the ball away, which means he has a chance to become a coveted cornerback,” wrote NFL Network scout Lance Zierlein. “However, his wire-thin frame does not work in his favor. Forbes’ instincts and recognition are fun to watch. He pounces on quick-game throws and has the ball skills to take the ball away. He’s highly capable in all forms of zone coverage and operates out of press-man, but is inconsistent matching the release and staying in phase with routes through sharp cuts."

The six-foot cornerback does have some concerns about his size. He weighed in at 170 pounds at his pro day, up slightly from his 166-pound weigh-in at the Scouting Combine.

Detroit likes to play man-coverage defensively, which would require physicality from the smaller cornerback. Forbes will need to continue to develop physically, in order to reach his potential as a pro.

"His slender build and lack of tackle strength will make him a target for opposing running games," Zierlein further wrote. "Forbes could become an early starter with quality ball production, but teams might need to expect some up-and-down performances.”

Forbes' smaller frame creates difficulties at the point of attack, in both the pass and run games. He's got good instincts, though, and would be a definite playmaker if he can match his skill with his size. 

His quickness and fluidity work in his favor, though. He has good footwork and a knack for being in the correct spot against passers. 

The youngster is confident, as well. He declared to reporters at his pro day that he feels he is the best cornerback in the draft. Later, he elaborated upon the skills that he feels set him apart. 

"(I want to) show that I am real fluid in my technique and how explosive I am honestly," Forbes said. 

If everything comes together, he has the potential to be among the league's top corners, with his ability to create turnovers. However, fine-tuning the details is required, as he begins his professional journey.