2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Emmanuel Forbes (CB – Mississippi State)

As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Emmanuel Forbes.

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2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Emmanuel Forbes (CB – Mississippi State)

Emmanuel Forbes (CB – Mississippi State)

6’0″ – 180 lbs.

Background:

Four-star recruit who started nine of eleven games played as a true freshman, with quarterbacks going 35/62 (56.5%) for 602 yards, six touchdowns, five interceptions, and five breakups when targeting him. Allowed 44/71 (62.0%) for 518 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions, and five breakups as a sophomore, then had his best year to date as a junior, with quarterbacks going just 31/58 against him for 284 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions; also broke up seven passes, while committing six penalties.

Positives:

Three-year SEC starter who took a step forward in each season, culminating in a strong junior campaign. Lanky corner who typically lines up on the right side of the defense, playing shuffle, zone, and press-man. Pretty quick feet to match releases at the line. Uses his hands to feel routes when playing man. Generally does a good job of keeping the play in front of him. Flashes the ability to process route combinations from zone and break off of his man to come down and contest a throw or make a quick tackle underneath. Overall flexibility is good. Pretty clean transitions to driving on a spot. Impressive length allows him to break up some passes even when he’s not in ideal position to make a play on the ball. Good extension and adequate functional strength to play off of blocks. Times blitzes well, something to team asked him to do fairly often.

Negatives:

Still needs to add additional bulk to his frame. Leggy, with a high center of gravity. Has the length teams look for in a press corner but isn’t particularly physical; needs to be more accurate with his hand placement on the jam. Wasn’t left on an island in man coverage particularly often during the games reviewed. Doesn’t squeeze routes too much at the stem. Drifts high and is susceptible to anticipatory/timing-based throws like curls and comebacks, as well as shorter breaking throws. Recovery speed is average. Tackling can be an adventure; needs to pay more attention to fundamentals, relying on hitting instead of wrapping. Doesn’t always seem too eager to get involved in the run game.

Summary:

Has an interesting combination of length and flexibility, which could allow him to develop into a starter down the road; consequently, should have some appeal to “bend, don’t break” defenses which favor zone/off-coverage. That said, despite the progress he’s made over the past three seasons, isn’t the stickiest or most explosive cornerback and probably needs to clean up elements of his technique, especially as a tackler, before teams will be willing to trust him on the boundary.

Projection: Round 3