The two primary compliments an NFL cornerback can receive are an ability to be around the football and how to avoid downfield penalties.
But after a Broncos training camp practice last month, coach Vic Fangio praised new cornerback Ronald Darby in a unique way.
“He’s kind of like a good referee,” Fangio said. “A good referee, you don’t notice. There are a lot of practices out here that I don’t notice him until I go put on the tape. You like that out of a corner.
“Not much business going (on) over there (to Darby’s side).”
If the Broncos are to snap their five-year playoff drought, they need no business — teams are unwilling to challenge No. 21 — or good business — such as Darby creates takeaways and pass break-ups.
The Broncos, who open the season Sunday at the New York Giants, knew they needed to address cornerback this offseason, so they did — again and again and again. Darby was the first target, signed to a three-year, $30 million contract ($19.5 million guaranteed) to leave Washington. He agreed to terms shortly after the negotiating window opened on March 15.
Darby’s contract trailed in annual average to free-agents-who-switched-teams William Jackson ($13.5 million, Cincinnati to Washington), Shaquill Griffin ($13.3 million, Seattle to Jacksonville) and Adoree’ Jackson ($13 million, Tennessee to the New York Giants).
But the Broncos anticipate Darby having the same kind of impact as those free agents.
Darby, meanwhile, hopes he has found a home in Denver after a winding pro football road.
Darby, 27, grew up in suburban Washington, D.C. (Glassmanor, Md.), was a four-star recruit, ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash and went to Florida State after originally committing to Notre Dame.
Practices at FSU in those days were game-like because of the talent on the field.
“It was hard,” Darby said in a training camp interview with The Denver Post. “We had a lot of good players — (receivers) Kelvin Benjamin, Rashad Greene, Kenny Shaw. …”
Darby wasn’t done.
“We had Nick O’Leary at tight end, Jameis (Winston) at quarterback, all the running backs with (Devonta) Freeman, Chris Thompson, Dalvin (Cook). Practices were harder than the games.”
Darby played as a true freshman in 2012 as a backup to Xavier Rhodes, but still broke up seven passes to be named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
On the Seminoles’ national championship team in ’13, Darby started nine of 14 games (two interceptions), allowing just nine completions (no touchdowns) in 27 targets. Florida State led the nation in pass defense (156.6 yards per game).
Darby, who played for three defensive coordinators, declared for the draft after his junior year (43 tackles).
“I felt like my times (4.38-second 40 at combine) and play were good enough to go in the top 2-3 rounds,” he said.
Buffalo drafted Darby 50th overall (second round) in ’15 and he started immediately — 21 pass break-ups (still a career high) and two interceptions, followed 12 pass break-ups and 69 tackles in ’16.
But then a trade and injuries.
Trade: On Aug. 11, 2017, Darby was dealt to Philadelphia for receiver Jordan Matthews and a third-round pick.
“I wasn’t that surprised because it was a new coach (Sean McDermott) and they like what they like and want what they want,” Darby said. “It worked out for the best — I got a Super Bowl ring.”
Injury (part 1): Darby missed two months of ’17 (ankle), but returned for the Eagles’ stretch run, finishing with three interceptions in the regular season and 18 tackles and six pass break-ups in three postseason games, including the Super Bowl victory over New England.
Injury (part 2): Darby started the first nine games of ’18, but tore his ACL. He signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract to stay in Philadelphia.
Injury (part 3): Darby missed four games with a hamstring injury and the season finale (hip flexor).
Needing to rebuild his market and prove he can stay healthy, Darby signed a one-year, $3 million deal with Washington last year. He had 55 tackles and 16 pass break-ups (no interceptions) while starting every game. He had only two penalties (one enforced).
“It was a breakthrough to show I could stay on the field,” he said. “Before I got to Philly, I had played in almost every game (three missed games in two years). It just felt good.”
What attracted the Broncos to Darby?
“We thought he was the best man-to-man guy available and he had a lot of on-the-ball production last year,” defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said. “We knew some people who had coached him and everything came back positive. He’s a good tackler and he can really run with anybody. He has elite speed.”
The positive about being in different places is quickly adapting to new terminology.
“He is so athletically gifted that a lot of this is kind of seamless for him,” safety Justin Simmons said. “With any type of defense, it’s just the verbiage that changes. Conceptually, everything is almost the same — there are only so many coverages that you can run.”
Darby’s experience gives Fangio options with his coverage calls and ideally puts the Broncos back in the top half of the takeaway chart after finishing 25th and 29th the last two years.
“He’s put in a lot of good work,” Fangio said. “He’s a prideful guy. He wants to play (well). He wants to be one of the guys that we win because of.”
