Dallas Cowboys: Ronald Darby could be an option

It is no secret the Dallas Cowboys have a variety of directions they might travel when making picks in the first and second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and with the draft less than a week away, there is no agreement as to who’ll they eventually end up with.

One player the Cowboys should look at when selecting either at 27th or 60th overall is Florida State cornerback Ronald Darby, though if he’s on the Cowboys’ radar, they will have to select him before that late in the second round.

With Darby, the Cowboys (or whomever drafts him) will be getting a player who is fast in timed drills and during in-game situations, though he’s not the ideal height teams are looking for at 5-11, 193 pounds.

Darby was timed with a 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and his vertical jump was an outstanding 41.5 inches, with a 10-9 broad jump and 4.14 shuttle run.

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The Florida State cornerback could be underrated in this draft, with draft experts having him being selected anywhere from Pick 22 (Pittsburgh Steelers) all the way to 61st overall (Indianapolis Colts).

Darby is an intriguing selection just for his physical attributes, mostly his height, but aspects like that are discussed each and every draft. In the long run, all that really counts is: can the player play in the NFL when it matters?

Rob Rang of CBSSports.com wrote about the positives and negatives of Darby when it comes to his draft evaluation:

"“Darby possesses a solid build with good overall weight distribution. Excellent timed speed that translates well to the field. Has a low, quick backpedal and has fluid hips that allow him to turn and easily run with even explosive receivers … remains a better athlete than football player at this time. Too often relies on his speed to cover receivers, losing technique by allowing receptions on underneath routes too often.”"

Most likely, the projection is Darby will be taken off the board on Day 2 of this draft.

Though Darby (a former four-star recruit out of high school) didn’t have a visit with the Cowboys, he’s still a player to watch in this draft depending on what the team does with their first-round choice.

Bob Strum of DallasNews.com has profiled many draft prospects this offseason, and Darby was included in his reviews in early March. Here is what he sees in Darby:

"“His 2014 tape was much more impressive than his 2013 tape from a standpoint of him understanding that the guys on Sunday are going to want to see some more physicality. He competes at a very high level of intensity and again appears to possess that competitor make-up you want to see from NFL corners.”"

Oct 5, 2013; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Maryland Terrapins wide receiver Deon Long (6) is unable to catch a pass against Florida State Seminoles defensive back Ronald Darby (3) during the first quarter of the game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

What stands out in that statement is Darby improved from one year to the next, and he does still have the potential to keep that improvement at the next level. Though he’s had some off-the-field issues in the past, Darby will still be selected within the first two rounds of this draft.

While at Florida State this past season, in 14 games Darby made 43 total tackles (28 solo), with one being for a loss. He had no interceptions, but did have four passes defended, but some of those numbers can be contributed to his cover skills as well.

In three seasons with Florida State, Darby totaled 79 tackles (57 solo), two interceptions (both in 2013), no touchdowns and 16 passes defensed.

The current Cowboys cornerback roster consists of Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Tyler Patmon, Orlando Scandrick, Robert Steeples and Corey White.

Besides Scandrick, the remaining roster of the Cowboys’ cornerback didn’t produce much in 2015. Scandrick (5-10, 196 pounds) played in 14 games this past season, collecting 55 total tackles (50 solo) with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one sack.

Darby would be a nice addition to the Cowboys’ cornerback roster, because he can not only keep the wide receiver from gaining the big play, but he’s also an improvement from the underachieving roster the Cowboys currently have at the position.

The height of Darby doesn’t completely bother me because he does have the vertical jump and coverage ability to make life miserable for opposing wide receivers in the NFL, which is the type of player the Cowboys could use for the upcoming season.

Next: Is Owamagbe Odighizuwa a pass rush solution?

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