Minnesota added more depth to their defensive backfield in the 5th round (139th overall) with cornerback Robert Blanton out of Notre Dame. The selection reunites Blanton with his fellow Notre Dame teammate Harrison Smith whom the Vikings selected just 2 days prior. Blanton fell down quite a bit with his pedestrian 4.70 40-time speed at the NFL combine, not something you want when you think of a cornerback. Blanton bounced back at the Irish Pro Day running a 4.53 40-yard dash. It might be smarter to consider Blanton as a defensive back at this point as opposed to just a cornerback since he was drafted so late similar to Mistral Raymond from last year. Here are some of Blanton’s strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths:
Good size and length
Physical player who can shed blocks
Fiery competitor, high motor
Weaknesses:
Only average long speed
Can get turned around turing coverage because of poor hip flexibility
Problem with defensive holding and pass interference
