After signing a three-year, $30 million contract with the Denver Broncos, cornerback Ronald Darby received glowing reviews from the team’s front office and coaching staff.
“[I] scouted Ronald back at Florida State and [he is] very talented, obviously,” general manager George Paton said on March 18. “Really natural cover skills coming out. He’s had a nice career thus far. He’s faced some adversity along the way with injuries, but the thing I like about Ronald is he played in Washington this year and he played 94 percent of the snaps on defense which is more than any corner in the National Football League.
“Started 16 games and played at a high level. They were second in the league in pass defense and comparing him to the other corners in free agency, we thought he had the best pure coverage skills of any corner. Talking with the coaches, he really fits what Vic [Fangio] wants. He can play man, he can play zone, he can match up, he can press and he can really run.”
Since he entered the NFL in 2015, Darby has broken up 88 passes, the third-highest total in the league. His versatility in coverage and willingness to cover makes him a great fit for Fangio’s scheme.
“I liked his cover ability,” Fangio said on March 22. “It’s pretty simple when you’re looking at corners. Can the guy cover somebody? You need to check that box first and I think he’s got natural cover skills, both in man and zone. As a corner, even when you’re playing zone, many times it ends up being man anyway. He can cover. We like his cover ability. I think he has good instincts for the game, both in man and zone. I think he’s a willing tackler.”
Darby is expected to serve as one of the team’s top two cornerbacks this season, starting on the outside across from Kyle Fuller with Bryce Callahan playing in the slot. Now that he’s proven he can stay on the field through a full season, Darby will look to stay healthy and continue breaking up passes in Denver.
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