CHICAGO -- Buffalo's first pick of the draft had Rex Ryan's fingerprints all over it as the Bills selected athletic cornerback Ronald Darby with the No. 50 pick Friday night.
The Florida State product has the kind of man-cover upside that Ryan loves to employ in his aggressive defense. Darby possesses good size at 5-foot-11 with blazing speed, having run a 4.38 second 40-yard dash at the combine.
Darby will join Stephon Gilmore, Leodis McKelvin and Corey Graham on the depth chart. The rookie was often left on an island in college, with many quarterbacks avoiding his side of the field, so he has the background for Ryan's scheme.
However, he was often outmuscled by bigger receivers and will need to become more aggressive to garner the coach's trust.
Darby finished with 79 tackles, two interceptions and 16 PBUs in 23 starts at FSU.
Without a first-round pick, the Bills used their principal selection to add a player with high upside who could become a playmaker at the most important position in Ryan's defense.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast recaps the first round of the NFL Draft. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
