Cleveland Browns pick-a-player: Adding one free agent from each NFC East team
By Nick Swanson
Washington Football Team – Ronald Darby, CB
Over the past few seasons, the Cleveland Browns secondary has been absolutely decimated with injuries. With cornerback being one of, if not the, most important positions on the defense, having a good corps is vital to a team’s success, unless you’re the Chiefs.
Ronald Darby is a player that has bounced around the league since being drafted back in 2015. Playing for three, and now potentially four, different teams in his six seasons in the league, Darby may find a permanent home in Cleveland. When healthy, he’s a quality corner that is experienced and explosive in his playmaking ability. He’s good in coverage and a pretty solid run stopper for a cornerback. He’s not going to wow you in the box score but his presence runs much deeper.
He only allowed one touchdown in 2020 and finished the season fifth in the league in pass breakups with 16. His allowed catch rate is 57.5 percent which isn’t terrible. His missed tackle percentage, 9.8 percent, which would have been the second-lowest, only behind Terrance Mitchell with a 7.1 percent, in the Browns secondary for those that played a full season.
At only 27-years-old, Darby still has tread left on the tires. He could bring that playoff experience and the championship DNA that the Browns have been yearning for. He’s played well during his time in the league so he might be asking for more than expected but if he’s able to replicate his previous production, it’s worth it.