The bad news for the Green Bay Packers is that NFC North rival, the Chicago Bears, stands to be one of the most improved teams in the league this coming season. The Packers’ arch-rivals have made improvements on both offensive and defensive lines, at linebacker, in the secondary, at wide receiver, at running back, and at tight end. Starting quarterback Justin Fields also stands to be one year more experienced with more offensive tools at his disposal.
The one area that still needs addressing on the team that finished dead last in the division at 3-14 is in the area of pressuring the opposing quarterback. Specifically, the team needs a quality edge rusher.
With a league-low 20 sacks all season, the one-time Monsters of the Midway need some talent in that area.
That’s where a player like former Denver Broncos cornerback Ronald Darby comes in.
Several NFL experts feel that the Bears are not only “all-in” when it comes to pursuing the free agent Darby, who was released by the Broncos earlier this year, but that they could be favored to land the all-pro veteran.
A second-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2015, Darby has been regarded as one of the better cornerbacks in the league from day one in the NFL. The man has had success whenever and wherever he’s been on the field, which includes runs with the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, and Denver Broncos over the course of his 8-year career.
“When he’s been on the field” may be the operative term in the above paragraph of compliments.
Darby has not been the healthiest or sturdiest of players, especially in recent years. Just last season, he tore his ACL in October and missed the rest of the season. That injury pushed the Broncos to release him and clear his nearly $10 million salary off the books. Over the last two seasons, he’s only played in 16 of 34 games. From 2017 to 2019, he only played in 27 of 48 games. That’s a lot of missed time for a player who’s just going to turn 30 this coming January. And, now, he’ll be coming off a serious season-ending injury.
However, with the increased risk of adding him to the roster, there comes a lowered asking price. And that’s where the Bears are uniquely positioned to be able to take such a risk. With more than $32 million in remaining cap space available, they could easily roll the dice on Darby and bring him aboard for a budget one or two-year deal.
The addition of an established star performer will help improve a secondary that has already been vastly improved over last season, even if his playing time is limited to eleven or twelve games.
Bringing one more quality player aboard could make a difference in an NFC North that, right now, appears to be anyone’s for the taking.
