Free agent cornerback Ronald Darby has agreed to a one year, $4 million deal with the Washington Redskins. Darby is coming off a season with the Philadelphia Eagles in which he started 11 games before injuring his hip and ultimately being placed on IR. Two seasons in a row have ended in injury for Darby, who tore his ACL after nine games of the 2018 season.
Ronald Darby has agreed to a one-year, $4-million deal with the Redskins, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 29, 2020
Ronald Darby Signs With Washington Redskins
Ronald Darby was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2015 draft. His rookie season was the best statistical season of his career. Darby finished that year with a career-high 21 passes defended and 68 tackles, which is one short of a career-high. He added two interceptions in the 15 games he started that year in Buffalo. Darby’s 2016 campaign was successful, too. In 14 games he totaled a career-high 69 tackles and defended 12 passes, but didn’t record any interceptions. After that season, Darby was traded to Philadelphia for Jordan Matthews and a 3rd-round draft pick. The haul made it clear that Philadelphia had high hopes for Darby.
The 2017 season was the start of an injury-plagued tenure for Ronald Darby in Philadelphia. He only appeared in eight games in the 2017 regular season due to a dislocated ankle. When he was on the field, he played well. He recorded three interceptions and nine pass defenses in those eight games and was a key contributor to Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run.
In 2018, Ronald Darby started the first nine games before the aforementioned ACL tear happened. He defended 12 passes and intercepted one pass on the season. After the season, the Eagles signed Darby to a one-year deal for $8.5 million. Before his hip injury, Darby defended 11 passes, recorded two interceptions, and totaled 37 tackles in 11 games.
Moving forward, it is clear that talent isn’t what is holding Ronald Darby back. He is a quality cornerback and plays well when he is able to stay healthy. If he is able to have an injury-free 2020 season, look for him to bounce back and start producing at a high level again.
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