Emmanuel Forbes has had a couple of tough weeks in a row, but he has been a key cog in the Commanders’ defense so far this year.
The rest of the draft class? Yeah, not so much, because as Danny Ruhier (among others) Tweeted Tuesday, the second through seventh-round picks have played a total of 14 non-special teams snaps
“Here’s my wide-angle takeaway: a second-round pick may not be a Week 1 starter, but he should definitely be a contributor, and maybe a starter at some point,” Cakes said.
Of course, second-round pick cornerback Quan Martin is playing special teams, which Cakes doesn’t count, but around concussion protocol and a thumb issue, he has played zero snaps on defense. Okay, maybe that’s due to the secondary depth and his health – even Ron Rivera intimated the former, even if some don’t believe it – but yeah, Ricky Stromberg, third-round pick for the “nubs” O-Line, has played four snaps, running back Chris Rodriguez six, and seventh-round edge/LB Andre Jones four.
In the words of a famous TV ad: Not great, Bob!
“Usually you put bottom of the roster guys on special teams – it’s the nubbers who are out there!” Cakes said. “And who has been the guy campaigning to
Bish asked how the guys would grade the draft, and based on snap grade, Cakes
“D-minus! Your top pick is getting roasted, and the rest of the guys aren’t playing,” he said. “I should give them an F, but at least Forbes is playing.”
“I don’t look at fifth through seventh rounders,” Bish replied.
Fine, but Stromberg and Martin ain’t playing and Braeden Daniels is on IR, so it’s Forbes and nubs from the first two days, while at least the sixth and seventh-rounders have seen daylight.
“It’s early, but it’s questionable,” Bish said, and EB followed up with the fact that Quan Martin, as a safety, isn’t going to play a lot over Kam Curl – and maybe the pick was a hedge in case Curl leaves?
Maybe over time, at least EB and Bish think, this class will be more fruitful like the 2021 and 2022 classes are, but only time indeed will tell.
Take a listen to the Junks’ entire discussion about what is (and isn’t) happening with the Commanders’ picks above, starting about 14 minutes into the clip!