The Los Angeles Rams claim former Commanders CB Emmanuel Forbes on waivers

That’s a surprise

Emmanuel Forbes Jr’s NFL career took another turn today. He was the 16th overall pick in last year’s draft, taken by the Washington Commanders in Ron Rivera’s last attempt to save his job. He was an undersized cornerback, and many people thought Washington would pick the higher-rated Christian Gonzalez. Forbes had a rough first year, getting benched, and not producing to the expectations people had for a first round pick.

He struggled again this year under new GM Adam Peters and a coaching staff led by Dan Quinn. He was a healthy scratch several times this season before finally being released on Saturday. It was expected that he would clear waivers like Washington’s other released former first rounder Jamin Davis, and sign with a practice squad to latch on to another team. The Los Angeles Rams had other ideas, and put in a waiver claim for Forbes. They were award the second-year player, an will take on the remaining 2+ years left on his deal. They will also retain the right to exercise his 5th-year option after next season.

This move helps the Washington Commanders salary cap, but they’re not completely off the hook for the mistakes of the former regime. Forbes’ contract was a fully guaranteed, 4-year, $15.4 million deal. He had an $8.2 million signing bonus that Washington already paid him. The team will have to account for the remaining signing bonus money(~$4 million) that has to be accounted for on their salary cap this season. The Commanders will save ~$5.3 million in cash and cap space, and the Rams will pay Forbes’ base salary and any roster bonuses.