Vikings Free-Agent Target Also Worked Out for Titans
Dustin Baker
|
If the Minnesota Vikings were interested in signing free-agent cornerback Ronald Darby for roster depth, the opportunity may have passed.
Minnesota auditioned Darby for the CB room a week and a half ago, but no deal materialized. And Darby has now continued his free-agent tour, working out for the Tennessee Titans this week.
Vikings Free-Agent Target Also Worked Out for Titans
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted on the X app Monday, “Free agent CB Ronald Darby worked out for the Titans today, source said, as Tennessee looks into some CB depth.”
If Darby eventually joins Tennessee’s roster, he’ll intermingle with this CB group:
- Kristian Fulton
- Sean Murphy-Bunting
- Roger McCreary
- Caleb Farley
- Tre Avery
- Elijah Molden
- Anthony Kendall
- Chris Jackson
- Armani Marsh
- Steven Jones Jr.
- Alonzo Davis
- Eric Garror
Darby, a 29-year-old journeyman, last played for the Denver Broncos and was ostensibly an odd man out during the team’s coaching shift from Nathaniel Hackett to Sean Payton this offseason. The ex-Bronco remains a free agent and can be signed by any team.
Here’s Darby’s career destination resume to date:
- Buffalo Bills (2015–2016)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2017–2019)
- Washington Football Team (2020)
- Denver Broncos (2021-2022)
A Super Bowl ring recipient in 2017 — he was a part of the Eagles squad that battered the Vikings en route to Super Bowl LII — Darby should be gettable for cheap this late in free agency. He’s just waiting on the call.
This is Darby’s Pro Football Focus history since joining the NFL:
- 2015: 75.8
- 2016: 68.3
- 2017: 79.9
- 2018: 70.6
- 2019: 44.8
- 2020: 76.0
- 2021: 61.1
- 2022: 71.1
The veteran defender has played 89 career games, starting 88, while tabulating 8 interceptions, 373 total tackles, and 8 tackles for loss. He tabulated 286 defensive snaps for the 2022 Broncos, along with an impressive 69.9 passer-rating-against. The man is not a Pro Bowler but a seasoned starter.
Free-agent CBs William Jackson, Cameron Dantzler, and Anthony Brown are also available on the open market for the Titans — or Vikings — if Darby doesn’t take the plunge. But that’s about it, with the preseason in full force.
The Titans defense ranked 32nd in 2022 per passing yards allowed, an obvious roster weak spot. But Mike Vrabel’s group somehow ranked 12th in points allowed and 19th in defensive DVOA.
Darby was a 2nd-Round draft pick by the Bills in 2015 and will turn 30 next January.
Lions Audition Former Hometown Viking
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.