Rams claim former first-round pick from waivers

As significant changes occurred in Washington this offseason, Forbes was unable to secure steady playing time. This reached the point of the Commanders attempting to gauge his trade value before the deadline last month. The team ended up cutting bait, resulting in dead money this year and next. The Commanders are on the hook for all of Forbes’ prorated signing bonus ($8.2M); that will leave a $4.1M dead money hit in 2025 as well.

As our Ely Allen pointed out, Forbes is the only cornerback to be drafted after weighing in under 170 pounds at the Combine since 2000. Elite ball production led to the Commanders preferring the 166-pound defender to Christian Gonzalez, who went off the board one spot later to the Patriots. Forbes intercepted six passes in 2022 at Mississippi State, returning three for touchdowns. 

For his career, the 6-foot cover man intercepted a staggering 14 passes and totaled six pick-sixes. That enticed the Commanders to dive in, but neither last year’s nor this year’s coaching staffs liked enough about his game to deploy him as a full-time starter regularly.

Forbes has started seven games as a pro; six came last season. After allowing a 60.7% completion rate as the closest defender last season, Forbes ceded a whopping 75% number in limited duty this year. The Rams will still give him a second chance, pulling the trigger on a waiver claim to do so. They will be on the hook for guaranteed base salaries, which will help the Commanders, but the NFC East team is still responsible for the bulk of the contract.

The Forbes pick came during one of the many Sean McVay-era first rounds in which the Rams did not hold a selection. This transaction will give the team a look at a player it clearly liked coming into the 2023 draft. 

The Rams have seen some issues form at corner, having already benched and traded Tre’Davious White this season. Pro Football Focus has no Rams CBs ranked inside the top 65 at the position; the team has given its most CB snaps to Cobie Durant and Darious Williams. PFF slots Durant and Ahkello Witherspoon 70th among corners this season, tabbing Williams — re-signed after two years in Jacksonville — 73rd.

Forbes, 23, will join an L.A. secondary that acquired more experience this year via the Williams and Witherspoon re-signings. The team also has two rookie UDFAs (Josh Wallace, Charles Woods) joining Quentin Lake in rounding out its CB group. Forbes will attempt to mix in for the 6-6 team.