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The Philadelphia Eagles were very busy during the first day of 2019 NFL free agency’s “legal tampering” period and it sounds like they’re not done yet. NFL insider Mike Garafolo reports the Eagles still want to retain starting cornerback Ronald Darby.
The outside CB market was slow to get off the ground yesterday but should pick up soon. The #Eagles still want Ronald Darby back but other teams in the mix. The #Colts' Pierre Desir has significant interest and should cash in after his one-year prove-it deal last year.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2019
This report doesn’t come as a surprise considering Darby said the “Eagles really want me to stay where I’m at” in a recent interview with NFL Network. It also lines up with a sentiment that BGN has heard this offseason.
The problem is that keeping Darby doesn’t figure to be cheap. Spotrac projects his annual value to be worth $13.4 million per year, which seems high. That’s top eight corner money. A few NFL insiders have recently suggested his value could be closer to $12 million. That’s just outside of top 10 corner money.
Based on Garafolo’s reporting, it sounds like there’s at least a decent market for the 25-year-old cornerback. James Brady from Niners Nation indicates the San Francisco 49ers view Darby as a “top priority.”
I now believe that Ronald Darby is their top priority, not a trade with OBJ -- but then again, trades are a lot more complicated than signings. Told many believe Darby and the Eagles can still work out a deal, though.
— James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) March 12, 2019
I’ve always presumed the Eagles are going to get outbid for Darby, who doesn’t really seem interested in offering Philly a hometown discount. (Which is his right.) But if the Eagles are truly determined enough to get a deal done, maybe they’ll find a way.
In any case, this will be a situation worth monitoring as the corner market starts to heat up.