After signing All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. to a record-setting three-year, $90 million contract extension on Monday, the Houston Texans continued to add depth to their secondary ahead of the 2025 season.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans have signed veteran cornerback Ronald Darby to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Darby spent last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, so he’s familiar with the Texans.
Former Jaguars free-agent CB Ronald Darby is signing a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Houston Texans, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2025
Last season with the Jags, the 31-year-old cornerback had 46 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, and three tackles for loss in 13 games (12 starts).
Darby also had a 68.9 completion percentage allowed on targets, but a noticeably high 120.0 pass rating allowed when targeted (career-worst). The veteran defensive back also gave up four receiving touchdowns (second-most in his career).
Before spending the 2024 season with the Jaguars, Darby also played for the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, and Buffalo Bills.
According to PFF, Darby had a 59.3 coverage grade (126th among 222 qualified cornerbacks) and a 60.9 run defense grade (55th). While those aren’t impressive numbers, it’s an upgrade over what the Texans got from Jeff Okudah last season.
Okudah had a terrible 29.3 coverage (217th among 222 cornerbacks) but was solid against the run with a 66.7 grade (72nd). At the same time, the 26-year-old defender only appeared in six games as he had an injured reserve stint earlier in the season.
With Darby in the fold, the Texans have a solid veteran defensive back who will give them depth behind Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. Given the Texans’ depth at cornerback, there could be a pathway for Darby to start at nickel.
Nonetheless, Texans fans should keep an eye out for more of these small, one-year signings as we get deeper into the later stages of free agency.