Emmanuel Forbes is the perfect signing for the Rams defense

Rams take a chance on Emmanuel Forbes, hoping the former first-round pick thrives in Los Angeles

If there is one thing that has gotten clearer after every passing week this season for the Los Angeles Rams it is that they need a playmaker in the secondary at cornerback. After trading Jalen Ramsey prior to last season, the Rams have put temporary replacements at cornerback, looking to just get by. Last year, they went the youth route with Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant. This year, it was Darious Williams and Tre White in hope of providing a steady presence.

Neither approach has worked and the answer is now obvious. Following Williams’ touchdown and two-point conversion given up, it was clear that this was a position that needed to be the top priority for the Rams this offseason.

However, on Monday the Rams had some luck go their way when they were able to claim former first round pick and 16th overall selection, Emmanuel Forbes off waivers. It’s a low-risk move, and one that could pay off in the long run.

The Rams have nothing to lose and everything to gain by claiming Forbes. If it doesn’t work out, they simply move on and they are right back where they started. In the case that it does work out, they end up with a first-round talent at cornerback.

Over the past few years, the Rams have had success taking players who have fallen out of favor and not worked with their former teams. In 2019, the Rams traded for second-round pick Austin Corbett from the Cleveland Browns. Corbett had one career start for the Browns and was inactive in five out of eight games. The Rams had pre-draft interest in Corbett in 2018 and then traded for him. Corbett ended up being a key piece of the offensive line that won the Super Bowl.

Odell Beckham Jr. and Baker Mayfield were both cut by the Browns and Panthers. Beckham said playing for the Rams, “brought me back to loving and having joy for football.” Mayfield had a similar experience and said, “It was the first time I had fun playing football in a few years.”

Kevin Dotson had fallen out of favor with the Pittsburgh Steelers after playing at left guard. The Rams traded for Dotson, played him at his more natural spot on the right side and he’s been a staple there ever since.

That’s not to say that Forbes will turn out like any of those players. However, the Rams have a tendency of taking players who have underperformed at previous destinations and put them in a position to succeed. That’s something that hasn’t happened yet for Forbes. Mark Bullock who covers the Commanders for his own Substack said heading into this season,

“So we’re now left in a situation where Forbes was the Commanders 2023 first-round pick because of his fit in zone systems, was benched in his rookie year for struggling in man coverage and now the new head coach is likely to install a system based more on man coverage than zone.”

The cornerback position is incredibly scheme-dependent and confidence is key. This is why signing one in free agency or trading for one can be risky. The Rams experienced this when they traded for Marcus Peters in 2018. While Peters was fine, he wasn’t the top cornerback that the Rams expected when they traded for him. It’s why they traded him the following season to the Baltimore Ravens. The Eagles experienced this twice — in 2011 when they signed Nnamdi Asomugha and 2015 with Byron Maxwell.

Asomugha was a man corner with the Raiders and the Eagles tried to play him in zone. Maxwell was simply a cornerback that benefited from playing in the Legion of Boom and being surrounded by a great scheme and other great players.

Forbes was always going to struggle at the next level if he was forced to play man because of his smaller 170-pound frame. He was drafted as an off coverage zone corner with great instincts and awareness of route combinations. Washington has played man coverage at the ninth-highest rate this season and last season. As Bullock wrote last season,

“He’s clearly much more comfortable playing off and/or zone coverage and it definitely suits his game far more. That’s been clear to see every time the Commanders switch from man to zone coverage…The Commanders have persisted with playing him in man coverage for far too long this season.”

The 2023 first round pick will come to a situation where for the first time in his career he will be a perfect fit for what the Rams run on defense with their mix of match zone coverages. If you read my Snead’s Snacks series last year, you’ll remember that Forbes was a player pegged a fit for the Rams. The Rams like fast, competitive cornerbacks with good ball skills.

In his final season at Mississippi State, Forbes led the country with six interceptions and ranked 10th in passes defended with 16. He also ran a 4.35 40-time at the NFL Combine. Forbes was also my pick for the Rams in my final 2023 mock draft. As I wrote at the time,

“Between his speed and ability to read route concepts from off-coverage, he’s a perfect fit in the Rams’ match zone. If Forbes falls out of the first-round, the Rams need to sprint to the table with their draft card.”

Forbes fits the Rams from a scheme perspective and also fits their archetype for what they look for at cornerback. Additionally, Forbes should fit their personnel and he will have experience playing with former Commanders safety Kam Curl.

Again, this isn’t to say that Forbes is going to work for the Rams. However, for no risk, it is absolutely worth the shot and he is a better fit in Los Angeles than he was in Washington. They essentially acquire a first-round talent for nothing. If it works out, the Rams may not have to take a cornerback in the first round next year. If not, they are right back where they started. It’s also important to note that the Rams didn’t just sign Forbes, but claimed him. Therefore, the Rams acquire him and his existing rookie contract at $2.15-million next year and $2.85-million in 2026. It’s way down the line, but the Rams will also have the fifth-year option on Forbes.

It’s more than fair to say that Forbes had a rough rookie season and then just didn’t quite fit with what Dan Quinn wanted to run on defense. At that point, the Commanders cut their losses and moved on from their first round pick from 18-months ago. However, Forbes was a first-round pick for a reason. The Rams can only hope that a change of scenery where he may be a better fit benefits him and his confidence isn’t completely gone.

It’s hard to say how much Forbes will contribute right away. He will likely get caught up to speed over the next few weeks before the final stretch run. At the very least, he’ll provide depth before potentially earning a rotational role. It is worth noting that Ahkello Witherspoon didn’t get a single defensive snap last week against the Saints.

The signing of Forbes doesn’t completely absolve the need for a cornerback in the offseason. With that said, if he shows promise and the ability to be the number two cornerback across from Darious Williams, it may allow the Rams to prioritize left tackle, wide receiver, or linebacker in the offseason.

Acquiring Emmanuel Forbes is a low-risk, high-reward move that is worth making at this point in the season. It’s very possible that it ends up being nothing and Forbes is cut in the offseason or during roster cutdowns next year. However, if it works out, it’s a move that also has a lot of potential.