It’s completely normal for veteran players to question the hype about an incoming rookie. It happens in every sport. For any player who has spent time in the NFL, even one year, hearing about how some rookie who has never taken a snap can lead to some questions.
That’s precisely what Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson was thinking regarding rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. It wasn’t that Dotson — Washington’s first-round pick in 2022 — didn’t think Forbes was good; he did. He just wanted to see it live on the practice field.
It’s safe to say after two weeks of OTAs, Dotson is a believer in the first-round pick from Mississippi State. The pair have already battled against one another in practice and should make for some fun matchups in the coming years.
At Dotson’s youth football camp over the weekend, he spoke to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post and offered the following on Forbes.
“Honestly, I watched the tape, and I was like, ‘I think he’s good, but I don’t know,”‘ Dotson said. “After seeing him on the field, I know how good he is now. I understand why he was drafted in the first round. I understand what all the hype is about.”
Jahan Dotson on rookie CB Emmanuel Forbes: "Honestly, I watched the tape and I was like, ‘I think he’s good, but I don’t know.’ After seeing him on the field, I know how good he is now. I understand why he was drafted in the first round. I understand what all the hype is about."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) June 3, 2023
The best way to measure Forbes before he takes his first NFL snap is in practice against Terry McLaurin, Dotson and Curtis Samuel. Those battles in the summer will prepare Forbes for his first NFL action in September.
