Rams claim CB Emmanuel Forbes

Although he is tied to a mid-first round contract, Emmanuel Forbes will not clear any waivers. The Rams are ensuring the 2023 first-round cornerback remains tied to this deal.

Forbes is heading to Los Angeles via waiver, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. The Commanders Adam Peters-Run regime continued despite signing the No. 16 overall pick for 2023 through 2026. The Rams are adding this contract to their payroll, showing strong interest from the NFC West team. The Rams waived the rookie UDFA cornerback Charles Woods to make room in the squad.

Because there were significant changes in Washington this offseason, Forbes was unable to secure consistent playing time. This reached the point where commanders were trying to assess his trade value before the deadline last month. In the end, the team took the bait, resulting in dead money this year and next. The Commanders are responsible for all of Forbes’ prorated signing bonus ($8.2 million). This will also result in a dead money hit of $4.1 million in 2025.

As our Ely Allen pointed out, Forbes is the only cornerback drafted after weighing less than 170 pounds at the Combine since 2000. Elite ball production led the Commanders to favor the 166-pound defender Christian Gonzálezwho went off the board one spot later to the Patriots. Forbes intercepted six passes and returned three for touchdowns at Mississippi State in 2022. Over the course of his career, the 6-foot-2 cover man has intercepted an incredible 14 passes and recorded a total of six pick-sixes. That prompted the Commanders to intervene, but neither last year nor this year’s coaching staff liked his game enough to regularly use him as a full-time starter.

Forbes has started seven games as a professional; six came last season. After allowing a 60.7% completion rate as the closest defender last season, Forbes gave up a whopping 75% in limited action this year. The Rams will still give him a second chance and claim him on a waiver. They will rely on guaranteed base salaries ($2.15 million in 2025, $2.85 million in 2026), which will save the Commanders $5.3 million, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post , but the NFC East team is still responsible for the majority of the contract. On the Rams’ 2025 payroll, Forbes will only have a cap hit of $2.15 million.

The Forbes election came during one of many Sean McVay-era first rounds in which the Rams held no picks. This transaction gives the team a look at a player they clearly liked if taken in the 2023 draft. The Rams have seen some issues at cornerback as they have already benched and traded Tre’Davious White this season. Pro Football Focus has no Rams CBs ranked in the top 65 at the position; The team gave the most CB snaps Cobie Durant And Darious Williams. PFF slots Durant and Ahkello Witherspoon 70th among corners this season, ahead of Williams – re-signed after two years in Jacksonville – 73rd.

Forbes, 23, will join an LA secondary that has gained more experience this year with the signings of Williams and Witherspoon. The team also has a rookie UDFA (Josh Wallace) Joining Quentin Lake in rounding out its CB group. Forbes will look to break into the 6-6 team.