Exclusive Interview with Browns’ Guard Drew Forbes
When the Cleveland Browns selected offensive lineman Drew Forbes in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft from Southwest Missouri State, the coaching staff envisioned bringing in a player who had made 35 consecutive starts and had a bulldog mentality who could come in and compete for a starting position right away.
A peek around the league reveals that many offensive linemen are selected in the later rounds of the draft. The Buffalo Bills drafted RG Wyatt Teller in the fifth round before trading him to the Browns in 2019. Last year, OT Dawand Jones was drafted in the fourth round.
Forbes was a standout for Southwest Missouri, and several teams had him on their draft list. He was not invited to the Combine, but he performed exceptionally well on his Pro Day. His 40 time of 4.87 would have been the best reading among all offensive linemen at the Combine. Other drills would have ranked him near the top of most categories.
During his senior year at Southwest Missouri State, he was voted First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference, as well as Walter Camp, STATS, Phil Steele, Associated Press, HERO Sports, and Athlon Sports All-America.
As a football team captain at North County High School in Bonne Terre, Missouri, he was named First-Team All-
In the same season, he competed in the Mississippi Area Red Conference as both a defensive and offensive lineman. Forbes’ sports career included participation in basketball, soccer, and track.
Forbes paid visits to five NFL clubs over the 30-day period: Minnesota, Green Bay, San Francisco, Cleveland, Atlanta, and the New York Jets. He preferred Green Bay and Cleveland because, growing up in rural Missouri, both cities reminded him of the Midwest. These are locales where their greetings begin with a “firm handshake.” If you reside in this area of the country, you understand.
One may expect Forbes, who plays for a minor FCS school, to have a good chance of going undrafted. But not for him.
As the Browns’ then-GM John Dorsey explained:
“(Forbes) would never be a free agent. He’s a draftable player. It’s the way he plays football; he plays with genuine passion and persistence.
He had approximately 65 individuals attend his viewing party. His grandparents arrived at the sports bar an hour early, and the sixth round had already begun. He received a text from an Arizona Cardinals scout, who informed Forbes that he was attempting to persuade their draft room to select him, but
Coming up were Green Bay, Cleveland, and San Francisco, all of which had indicated interest in him. Both the Packers and the 49ers chose different players. The phone rings, and the person on the other end of the line urges him to hold for Dorsey as the pick is announced on the TV screen. Forbes had been drafted by the Browns.
Holly, Drew, Emily, and Brett on draft day (L-R)
Forbes’ sister Holly received a scholarship to play basketball at Robert Morris University and now plays professionally in Australia. His 13-year-old brother, Brett, was playing outside. He was born with spina bifida and has no feeling below the knees. Forbes will tell everyone that his brother is what motivates him and Brett.
Forbes and his wife Emily are both committed Christians who recently welcomed a son.
Dawgs By Nature interviewed the Browns’ offensive linemen to find out what it’s like to compete alongside two Pro Bowlers, if there is a difference between playing on the right or left side of the line, and if Coach Bill Callahan is truly the best offensive line coach in the league.
