Inside the Iggles
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Philadelphia Eagles: Everything you need to know about Jordan Matthews’ trade

By Louie DiBiase

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 20: Ronald Darby
CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 20: Ronald Darby /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 13: Connor Barwin #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles makes a catch over Ronald Darby #28 of the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 13, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 13: Connor Barwin #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles makes a catch over Ronald Darby #28 of the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 13, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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NewYorkUpstate.com Bills beat reporter Ryan Talbot thinks Darby could become a “top tier cornerback”.

"The Eagles are getting a cornerback who performed very well as a rookie. He struggled a bit in his second season with the Bills but has the talent to become a top-tier cornerback in the NFL."

Another reliable source:

According to Pro Football Focus, Ronald Darby’s stellar rookie season was graded out as the third highest rookie year for any cornerback in the history of the NFL.

The former second-round pick came to the league courtesy of the Florida State Seminoles. What he lacks in size  (5’11), he makes up for with incredible speed. Darby ran an impressive 4.38 at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine.

Darby now figures to, most likely, start immediately on the outside opposite Jalen Mills. That will buy the Eagles some time as they wait for second-round pick Sidney Jones to recover from a torn Achilles. Luckily for Eagles fans, Patrick Robinson‘s services probably won’t be needed this year. He’s been, mostly, abysmal.

The cornerback position now has a deep pool of young, promising prospects. Darby and Sidney Jones could form an elite young tandem at corner, while Jalen Mills could fill the role of being what the Eagles have been missing since Brandon Boykin left, a true slot cornerback.

Rasul Douglas will serve as an insurance policy to Sidney Jones. Having Ronald Darby in the fold means someone else could serve as trade bait later. That’s a good problem for the Eagles to have and one they haven’t had in a long time.

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