Ravens sign free agent cornerback Ronald Darby

In need of help at the cornerback position, the Baltimore Ravens agreed to a one-year deal with veteran free agent Ronald Darby. The deal is worth up to $3.2 million, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

This comes shortly after it was announced that longtime Ravens starting corner Marlon Humphrey was going to miss some time after undergoing foot surgery. Humphrey is just the latest Baltimore defensive back to be sidelined as Rock Ya-Sin, Damarion Williams, Arthur Maulet, and Jalyn Armour Davis are also injured. Coming to terms with Darby is an indication that they are unsure about the availability of more than a few of these players in the short term. Darby would also bring up the overall talent level should he remain with the Ravens for the entire season.

Ronald Darby is an eight-year NFL veteran, spending time with Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington, and Denver.  Darby has 90 career pass defenses, including a career-high 21 as a rookie. The former Florida State Seminole has eight career interceptions but has not recorded an interception since the 2018-19 season. Darby was a key player for Philadelphia in their run-up to the Super Bowl in 2017. Appearing in nearly every defensive play, Darby recorded 16 tackles and defended six passes.

The only real issue for Darby in his career has been injuries. Darby’s second and final season in Denver came to an end after an ACL tear in Week 5. 2022 was the third season in which Darby did not play in more than 10 games (2017 – 8, 2018 – 9). Should Darby be fully healthy, he has enough experience to find a way to contribute to the Ravens’ defensive efforts.