Getty Former Philadelphia Eagles Ronald Darby makes a play during Super Bow LII.
The Dallas Cowboys added a new starting cornerback, Stephon Gilmore, but the depth behind the starters is concerning, which is where a former Philadelphia Eagles star could come in.
Ronald Darby, who was released by the Denver Broncos in March and is now looking for a new team, would give the Cowboys another injection of experience and, like Gilmore, he knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl. The Cowboys could buy low on Darby, 29, and make a tangible, significant upgrade on their corner group without a major investment.
After the exciting cornerback tandem of Gilmore and Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys need depth. Seventh-year cornerback Jourdan Lewis may finally reach the potential he’s shown flashes of. But the Cowboys can hardly rely on DaRon Bland, Nahshon Wright or Kelvin Joseph to round out the corner group.
According to a July 21 tweet from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Darby was to work out for the Houston Texans that day. Rapoport said Darby would be a “solid potential pre-camp addition.”
Darby Struggled After Time with Eagles, Washington
In terms of accolades, it’s almost puzzling how Darby hasn’t earned a Pro Bowl nod or some form of acknowledgment during his first six years in the NFL. He first entered the league with the Buffalo Bills in 2015 as a second-round pick, and pretty much immediately made an impact.
Darby registered 21 passes defended as a first-year starter, adding two interceptions. He did experience a “sophomore slump” in 2016, but he still managed 12 passes defended.
The Eagles traded wide receiver Jordan Matthews and a third-round pick for Darby in 2017, and the deal paid immediate dividends for Philadelphia. Darby brought down three INTs and swatted 9 passes during the regular season, before adding another 6 passes defended in the Eagles’ run to a Super Bowl ring.
Over the following three seasons (2018-2020) with the Eagles and then the Washington Football Team, Darby never produced fewer than 10 passes defended each season. However, a switch to the Broncos in 2021 was far less productive.
Darby played only 16 games for Denver over two seasons, failing to pull down an interception during that span. Darby did suffer a torn ACL in Week 5 of 2022, but has completed his recovery to work out for the Texans.
How Darby Could Fit With Cowboys
Part of why Darby makes sense as a signing despite his 2022 injury is what the Cowboys might expect out of him. With Diggs and Gilmore, there’s far less pressure on Darby than in his time with Denver, both physically and logistically.
However, any addition to the corner group would mean someone leaving. In terms of 53-man roster cuts, Bland, Wright and Joseph feel appear to be players that could be released in this scenario.
Bland is a second-year player in 2023, while Joseph and Wright are entering their third seasons. Joseph played just 15% of possible defensive snaps in 2022 despite injury issues leading to Bland starting eight games last year.
If Darby (or any new CB,) was to come in, it feels like Joseph or Wright would be the odds-favorites to be the corresponding release.