The Washington Commanders used a fifth-round pick on safety Darrick Forrest in the 2021 NFL draft. A terrific athlete, Forrest was also an excellent safety and special-teams standout for the University of Cincinnati.

Forrest battled injuries and appeared in only eight games as a rookie, mostly on special teams. In 2022, Forrest took advantage of Kam Curl’s early-season absence, starting Washington’s first two games. In those two games, Forrest recorded 15 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and two passes defensed. When Curl returned, Forrest mostly remained in the starting lineup and looked like a future cornerstone for the Commanders.

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Unfortunately, the injury bug struck again in 2023, limiting Forrest to five games. After the season, Washington fired coach Ron Rivera, hiring Dan Quinn to replace him. When Quinn and GM Adam Peters described the type of players they wanted in burgundy and gold, Forrest appeared to fit that description.

Forrest remained healthy in 2024 but never seemed to fit in with defensive coordinator Joe Whitt’s defense. Forrest appeared in 10 games, making five starts, but was inactive for several games. In the offseason, the Commanders allowed Forrest to walk, and he signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills.

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports named five under-the-radar players on expiring contracts in 2025 who could be poised for a breakout season. He named Forrest as one of those five players.

Forrest wasn’t a marquee free-agent signing for the Bills. And in the Sean McDermott era, those have been the types of acquisitions that have thrived on this Buffalo squad. Think Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Cole Beasley, etc.

Speaking of Hyde and Poyer, this Bills defensive staff, which has mostly stayed intact over the past five to seven years, has done a marvelous job developing safeties. They’re asked to do so much for McDermott’s defense.

Forrest is a big-time athlete — 9.69 Relative Athletic Score — who flashed early in his career in Washington with four interceptions, nine pass breakups and a whopping 88 tackles when thrust into a starting role in his second season. A coaching change after that year didn’t help Forrest’s job security, and he started just six games afterward.

He just turned 26 years old and has the range and ball skills to outproduce his relatively cheap one-year deal. The Bills are no longer boasting All-Pros at the safety spot, and don’t be surprised if Forrest earns legitimate playing time en route to a breakout 2026 in Buffalo.

The Bills have a history of signing veteran defensive backs and turning them into stars. Poyer and Hyde are excellent examples. Forrest will have a chance to play regularly for the Bills, who should have one of the AFC’s better defenses after a strong offseason.

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As for the Commanders, there are questions at safety. Quan Martin has one spot locked down, but Washington allowed Jeremy Chinn to depart and signed Will Harris to replace him. Percy Butler and Jeremy Reaves add depth at safety. Forrest’s departure likely has more to do with second-year safety Tyler Owens.

Owens is a phenomenal athlete who made the team as an undrafted free agent last offseason. Owens had a terrific training camp and preseason and was one of the team’s best special-teams players as a rookie. He could see an increased role on defense in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Will Commanders regret not re-signing former 5th-round pick?