The Washington Commanders are still living with one of Ron Rivera’s worst calls, and Christian Gonzalez just made sure nobody will forget it.
Gonzalez, the cornerback Washington passed on with the No. 16 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has landed a four-year, $135 million extension from the New England Patriots that includes $102 million guaranteed. The deal edges him $1 million past the Seattle Seahawks’ Devon Witherspoon and makes him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
For the Commanders, it is another painful reminder of how badly that draft night went.
Rivera badly needed help at corner and clearly fell for Emmanuel Forbes Jr.’s ball-hawking upside, even with obvious concerns about his size. Gonzalez had been projected as a top-10 pick, but injury questions pushed him down the board. Washington still passed, and the fallout has been brutal.
Gonzalez has developed into an All-Pro-caliber player in New England. Forbes, meanwhile, never even finished his second season in Washington before the Commanders moved on from him.
The size issue proved real. Forbes was repeatedly overpowered by bigger receivers, and his play became a problem. Even after the coaching change, Washington could not get him on track, and general manager Adam Peters eventually had no choice but to waive him.
Forbes is now with the Los Angeles Rams, though his role will shrink after the arrivals of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Gonzalez is still thriving with the Patriots, while Washington is left trying to patch together its own cornerback situation.
That group is already under pressure with Trey Amos starting the season on injured reserve. Mike Sainristil, Amik Robertson, and Rasul Douglas are expected to carry the load, and while that trio could be solid, there is not much behind it if injuries or inconsistency hit.
Rivera’s decision to take Forbes over Gonzalez now stands as a massive draft mistake, and one that capped his run with first-round picks before he was let go. It also fits the broader picture of a draft record that left Peters inheriting a mess.
There is nothing Washington can do to change it now. But Gonzalez’s new contract makes the cost of that choice even harder to ignore.
In Other News...
Commanders Just Added Receiver Depth That Could Matter Faster Than Expected
The Commanders added another layer to their receiver room by signing Van Jefferson Jr. to the practice squad as they turn the page into Week 1 prep. Jefferson had turned in a solid training camp, but he was the odd man out when Washington finalized its 53-man roster, with Luke McCaffrey getting the nod instead.
Even so, Jefferson never felt far from the picture, and this move gives Washington a familiar contingency if the position group gets hit by injuries or simply needs more production. For a roster still sorting out its early-season depth, it is the kind of addition that could matter sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Just Made Jaden Bradleys Early Path A Lot Tougher
The Commanders added another experienced receiver to the practice squad in Van Jefferson Jr., a move that gives Washington more depth behind its top pass catchers and subtly raises the bar for everyone else in the receiver room. For a young player like undrafted rookie Jaden Bradley, who also landed on the practice squad, it means the margin for earning attention just got a little slimmer even before the season settles into its rhythm.
Bradley still has something working in his favor: Washington views him as more than just camp depth and likes the work ethic that helped him hang around. The challenge now is turning that developmental spot into a real path forward, especially with veteran competition in the building and the practice squad becoming a proving ground rather than a placeholder. [Read more 🡒]
Treylon Burks Just Got The Commanders Opportunity He Needed
Treylon Burks entered the week with a clean slate in Washington, and the Commanders made the message even clearer when they released their Week 1 depth chart for the opener against the Eagles. Burks was listed as a starting wide receiver alongside Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, a notable sign for a player who arrived on a one-year deal and is looking for a fresh start after a difficult run with the Tennessee Titans.
The opportunity goes beyond a spot on the first depth chart. Under coordinator David Blough, Burks is expected to have a meaningful role in the offense, giving him a chance to show he can still be part of a long-term plan if he makes the most of this opening stretch. For Washington, it is a low-risk way to see whether a former first-round talent can finally find the right fit. [Read more 🡒]