More bad news for another former Commanders' first-round pick
Two of Ron Rivera's former first-round picks in Washington were in the news this week.
The Las Vegas Raiders released linebacker Jamin Davis on Thursday, which means that his next team will be his sixth. That's not exactly what former Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera envisioned when using the No. 19 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Davis.
On Friday, another former Washington first-round pick under Rivera was in the news. The Los Angeles Rams declined cornerback Emmanuel Forbes' fifth-year option for 2027, meaning he will be a free agent at the end of next season. The move is not a surprise.
The Rams made two huge moves at cornerback this season, adding Trent McDuffie via trade and Jaylen Watson in free agency. Forbes, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, did not even last two seasons with the Commanders .
After struggling badly as a rookie, Washington's new regime waived him six games into his second NFL season. The Rams claimed him, assuming his rookie contract. Here's a remarkable statistic from Rivera's four years in Washington, where he was not only head coach, but also in charge of personnel: the Commanders did not pick up the fifth-year option on any of his four first-round draft picks.