Rams Reportedly Make Contract Decision on Emmanuel Forbes' $12.6M 5th-Year Option

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes is set to head into the 2026 season on an expiring contract.

The Rams have declined to pick up the $12.6 million fifth-year option on Forbes' rookie contract, via Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams.

Forbes is now under contract through the 2026 season and set to hit free agency ahead of his age-26 campaign in 2027, per Spotrac.

Originally selected by the Washington Commanders in the first round of the 2023 draft, Forbes appeared in 14 games with six starts during his rookie season before seeing his playing time dwindle in D.C.

Forbes was ultimately waived midway through the 2024 season, at which point he his contract was picked up by the Rams.

That move paid off when Forbes recorded a breakout 2025 campaign in Los Angeles, appearing in all 17 games with 14 starts while recording 45 tackles, 18 passes defensed, a forced fumble and three interceptions.

Forbes went on to record eight postseason tackles, although he suffered a shoulder injury in the divisional round and saw his snap count drop before the Rams were eliminated from the NFC title game by the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

The Rams recently made some significant investments at cornerback by trading for Trent McDuffie and signing Jaylen Watson.

After the free agency departures of Cobie Durant, Roger McCreary, Akhello Witherspoon and Derion Kendrick as well as the retirement of Darious Williams, the Rams' secondary has undergone an almost complete overhaul this offseason.

Whether Forbes sticks around in Los Angeles or joins that list of departures could depend on his fit as a backup behind McDuffie and Watson this season.