The Rams have struggled to find consistent cornerback play since trading away Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey was such an integral part of the defensive scheme, his departure called for the team to reinvent their approach to pass coverage. While Darious Williams, Akhello Witherspoon, and Cobie Durant have done a decent enough job, there’s a need for another corner that can play fast and disrupt the timing of passing routes.
Tre’Davious White was supposed to fill that role, but that didn’t work out due to various factors, so whoever the Rams brought in next would need to be the opposite of what White is. That player would need to be young, explosive, and injury-free and despite Christmas being weeks away, the Rams got an early gift in Emmanuel Forbes.
Forbes was a highly touted prospect out of Mississippi State due to his 4.35 40 time, 14 career interceptions, and his ability to make plays from different positions in the secondary. He’s a perfect fit for Chris Shula’s defense.
Shula has used three-safety packages during certain passing situations and as a result, Kam Curl, Kam Kinchens, and Jaylen McCollough have been put into positions to make game-changing plays. All three players have had game-sealing interceptions this year, with the scheme playing right into Forbes’ versatility.
Forbes also looked more comfortable in coverage when he had Curl’s help over the top when they were teammates in Washington. Having such a bond paired with Curl’s already-established relationship with Rams defenders will help Forbes assimilate into LA quickly.
Forbes’ two years in the NFL have not been great. There’s no denying the truth. There’s also another truth about his development that hasn’t been talked about. He was ruined by Jack Del Rio’s poorly designed defensive scheme that was stuck in the last decade. Currently, Washington is cleaning house of all the old Ron Rivera players and unless he magically started playing at an All-Pro level in Year 2, Forbes was going to be let go anyway.
Looking at his film, it seems his underwhelming play is a result of bad coaching and a lack of motivation from the people surrounding him. In Los Angeles, he will be put in positions that fit his strong suits with coaches and teammates that will give him the confidence he had at Mississippi State.
If the Rams can get him back to the aggressive player he was in college, they have a stud on their hands at no cost to their draft capital. Plus, they inherit his fifth-year option, which could keep him under contract through 2027.
Bold prediction: Forbes will not only be a pillar for the Rams’ defense for the next three years but he will also propel the team to the NFC West title.
