Ronald Darby NFL Draft 2015: Scouting Report, Grade for Buffalo Bills Rookie

STRENGTH

Speed, speed and more speed. Ronald Darby is sprinter fast, and he plays with the confidence and comfort that comes from that speed. He was rarely targeted at Florida State as teams stayed away from his side of the field. Darby was a state sprinter champion in high school (Maryland) and brings that explosiveness to the field. He's fluid when breaking on the ball and has click-and-close skills to attack underneath routes. He's an easy, controlled mover who can change directions without delay. In man coverage he can run with any receiver in the game. He's explosive and smart in zone coverage, timing his breaks and finding the ball with quick eyes. While Darby isn't a big cornerback, his hand placement to jam receivers is impressive.

WEAKNESSES

Darby has been a starter for only a year and a half and needs experience in technique. He doesn't play big and has short arms and small hands. He hasn't converted interception opportunities and has questionable ball skills (albeit on limited opportunities). Darby isn't a threat to maintain his stick on receivers at the line of scrimmage. As a tackler he shows timid form when approaching a ball-carrier. Off the field, Darby was connected to the Jameis Winston sexual assault case as a witness. He was cleared of wrongdoing by Florida State but refused to testify during Winston's hearing with the school.

2014 STATISTICS

Tackles   Passes Defended   Interceptions 

PRO COMPARISON: Chris Harris, Denver Broncos

A smooth, athletic, explosive cornerback with the skills to play in the slot or on the boundary, Darby has the potential to be a Chris Harris-like corner in the pros.

FINAL GRADE: 6.99/9.00 (Rookie Starter)