Emmanuel Forbes Jr. is on the rise ahead of the highly anticipated 2023 NFL Draft after displaying his talent at the NFL Combine and Mississippi State’s Pro Day.
As one of the most talented athletes at the position in this year’s class, the likelihood of Forbes hearing his name called during the first round of draft picks is increasing rapidly.
Forbes finished his historic collegiate career with the most career interceptions returned for a touchdown in FBS history, making him a massive pickup for teams searching for a playmaking cornerback.
For Forbes, the draft process has been a dream come true.
“[Being drafted] is something I’ve always wanted. I’m just enjoying the process and taking it one day at a time,” Forbes said following MSU’s Pro Day.
The time has finally arrived for Forbes and many other Bulldogs to go from State to Sundays. When the 2023 NFL Draft commences on Thursday night in Kansas City, Missouri, there are three teams that would be a perfect match for Forbes.
Cincinnati Bengals (28th pick)
In recent years, the Cincinnati Bengals have become one of the most feared teams in the AFC. The star-studded offense features the likes of quarterback Joe Burrow, along with talented targets Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Although there is no shortage of talent producing on offense, the one aspect of the Bengals game that could use improvement is the secondary. During the regular season last year, the Bengals defense allowed 229 passing yards per game and finished 16th as a unit.
The depth of the Bengals secondary has suffered due to injuries and could use an athletic cornerback to compliment veteran Mike Hilton and second-year corner Cam Taylor-Britt. The last time the Bengals selected a cornerback in the NFL Draft was in 2016, but Cincy seems like a prime destination for Forbes to thrive.
Baltimore Ravens (22nd pick)
Like their AFC North foe, the Baltimore Ravens could use depth at the cornerback position. The Ravens signed talented wideout Odell Beckham Jr. in the offseason, adding to an already explosive offense featuring one of the league’s best signal-callers in Lamar Jackson – if the price is right.
The negotiations with Jackson have been rocky to say the least, but for the time being, the Ravens will have to focus on other positions of need. Like the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens could use another ball-hawking corner to compliment an experienced superstar like Marlon Humphrey.
Baltimore allowed 232.2 passing yards per game last season which ranked 26th in the league. Adding a young and athletic talent like Forbes will provide the Ravens with some cushion in the secondary, which could make them a dangerous team in the AFC.
Dallas Cowboys (26th pick)
Despite recent struggles, one constant for the Dallas Cowboys organization has been the defensive talent. With edge rusher Micah Parsons speeding past offensive tackles and Trevon Diggs disrupting wideouts across the league, the unit has shown flashes in the last two years under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Dallas defeated Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card, but were eliminated by the San Francisco 49ers before they could make a run at the divisional championship.
The achilles heel of the Cowboys has been the plague of injuries on both sides of the ball. Forbes plays excellent in man coverage and would be a huge complimentary asset to Diggs in the Dallas secondary.
Honorable mentions – New England Patriots (14th), Washington Commanders (16th), Pittsburgh Steelers (17th)