There aren't many high-end draft picks left from Ron Rivera's four-year stint as Washington Commanders head coach. A recent report hints that the new regime is looking to dispose of the only remaining first-round pick remaining of his tenure.
It was a series of awful selections from Rivera that he couldn't recover from. Adam Peters didn't think much of his roster constriction, turning over almost two-thirds of the playing personnel during a frantic first recruitment period at the helm. This also included releasing Jamin Davis in-season and trading Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The final first-round selection under Rivera was someone who quickly became the apple of his eye. Even when Christian Gonzalez - who was projected by almost everybody to be the better prospect - fell below expectations and into his lap at No. 16 overall, the Commanders still took Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
Forbes went through some rookie struggles and is a complete non-factor under new head coach Dan Quinn. He didn't register a single defensive snap in Week 9 against the New York Giants, which is a damning indictment of how his progress is being perceived by the coaching staff.
Now, rumored motives before the trade deadline represent bad news from Forbes' perspective.
Commanders reportedly gauging trade interest in Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, the Commanders have been gauging interest from teams around the league before a potential trade for Forbes. Whether a suitable offer arrives or not is anyone's guess, but it's the most glaring sign yet that Washington is ready to give up on this failed experiment.
Forbes just doesn't have the size of physical mindset to become impactful within Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s scheme. Whiffing on an open-field tackle versus the Chicago Bears in Week 8 was the final straw. He's been taken out of the firing line almost completely after that, confirming his status as yet another draft bust from the Rivera era.
Although things haven't gone according to plan for the Mississippi State product, teams are always willing to take a chance on promising players who were taken with high picks in the hope they can reach their potential. Some thrive with a second chance. Others wilt under the pressure and are cast aside entirely.
The Commanders aren't going to get anything like a first-round pick in return. If the defensive back was moved, it would also heighten the urgency to find another cornerback to solidify depth or perhaps impact the starting rotation more effectively than Forbes ever could.
Rivera thought Forbes could become the shutdown outside presence with the ballhawk capabilities needed to take the league by storm. Regardless of whether the player is traded or not, he's got a long road ahead before coming close to meeting these expectations.
Perhaps a fresh start would be the best possible solution for all parties. It certainly looks like the more profitable outcome for Forbes - a player who doesn't fit into the Commanders' new way of thinking and will likely relish the chance to start over in a different environment.
Time is of the essence and speculation is rising. Fortunately for fans, there isn't much longer to wait before something gets confirmed one way or another.
