Emmanuel Forbes will be among the NFL’s lightest players. Washington hopes he’ll be among the most exciting.

The Commanders were looking for a lockdown cornerback and believe they found one in Forbes, who stands 6 feet tall.

Selected 16th overall, Forbes comes to the nation’s capital with a glowing résumé out of Mississippi State.

Earning All- Southeastern Conference and consensus All-American honors, Forbes had 14 career interceptions, including an NCAA record six that he returned for touchdowns.

The Commanders (8-8-1) had the NFL’s third stingiest defense (based on yards allowed) in 2022 but settled for just nine interceptions in 17 games. Darrick Forrest led with four.

The youngest of 10 siblings, Forbes weighed just 166 pounds at the NFL Combine, but his overall athleticism won over the scouts, especially Washington’s.

In front of the NFL evaluators, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 while showing off a 38-inch vertical leap and 10 feet 8 inches standing broad jump.

Washington has a history of smallish cornerbacks. Two of the franchise’s best were Pat Fischer (5-foot-9, 170 pounds) and Darrell Green (5-foot-9, 184 pounds).

Currently the lightest NFL player may be New York Jets cornerback Brandin Echols, listed at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds.

Washington keeps close tabs on Mississippi State. In 2019 defensive end Montez Sweat was taken first out of the same SEC program.

As expected, Black quarterbacks were the first to be selected.

Alabama QB Bryce Young was taken first overall by Carolina and C.J. Stroud of Ohio State went second to Houston.

Florida’s Anthony Richardson went to Indianapolis as the fourth pick. Hendon Hooker, who played at Virginia Tech and Tennessee, was taken in the third round by Detroit.

The annual draft continues to be dominated by athletes from the Power 5 conferences.

The Southeastern Conference led the way this year with 62 selections followed by the Big 10 (54), ACC (30) and Big 12 (29).

Alabama and Georgia had 10 draftees each. Then came Texas Christian (8), Michigan (7) and Clemson (6).

Only one HBCU player heard his name called.

Defensive back/kick returner Isaiah Bolden, from Jackson State, was picked in the seventh round and 245th overall.

Bolden played at Jackson State under former Coach Deion Sanders. He becomes the 101st player drafted out of Jackson State.