By Budd Bailey
Ronald Darby of the Bills
Taken in Round 2 in 2015
The next pick: The Browns took linebacker Nate Orchard at No. 51. He’s had trouble sticking with one team, and even passed through Buffalo in 2018.
Other picks in the round: The choice before Darby belonged to Kansas City, and the Chiefs took future Bills center Mitch Morse. While on the subject of the Bills, T.J. Yeldon went at No. 36 to Jacksonville, and Jordan Phillips was taken at No. 52 by Miami. Eric Kendricks (No. 45) has been a good fit at linebacker for six years with the Vikings.
The details: Darby moved right into the Bills’ starting lineup for two seasons, and then was traded to the Eagles for wide receiver Jordan Matthews. Darby has had some injury problems, but he started 16 games for Washington in 2020.
Other 50s: Byron Franklin broke through in his third season in 1984 to catch 69 passes. Then he went to Seattle, and was a reserve for three more years. Chris Thorburn played a lot of pro hockey, but little of it was with the Sabres. He moved on to Pittsburgh in 2006, but the next year the defenseman found a home with Atlanta/Winnipeg. Chris finished his career with St. Louis in 2019.
(Follow Budd on Twitter @WDX2BB)
Leave a Reply