Former Vikings safety Robert Blanton is taking a free agent visit with the Buffalo Bills according to the team.
It seems unlikely that Robert Blanton will be back with the Vikings in any capacity this year, but the former starting safety is apparently getting interest on the free agent market, so maybe he will play somewhere in 2016.
I don’t know how many teams are interested in Blanton but he does have at least one free agent visit lined up.
Free agent safety Robert Blanton has arrived at One Bills Drive and is currently visiting with the @buffalobills.
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) March 18, 2016
Rex and Rob Ryan want to have a little talk with Robert Blanton. Cool.
The 26-year-old Blanton was a fifth round pick of the Vikings out of Notre Dame in 2012. Blanton served mostly as a backup safety until ascending to the starting lineup in 2014 where he stayed for most of the season. Blanton vanished from the starting safety picture in 2015, and I suspect it was because Mike Zimmer installed more looks in year two of his program and Blanton simply couldn’t keep up.
Both Blanton and fellow safety Andrew Sendejo became free agents this offseason, but while the Vikings quickly brought back Sendejo, they have shown no particular interest in retaining Blanton. The Vikings recently signed veteran safety Michael Griffin to a one-year deal.
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Blanton expressed interest in returning to the Vikings.
Though Blanton at times showed okay coverage and tackling skills, his lack of physicality was an issue and it just seems like Mike Zimmer never became sold on his ability to take the next step in the defense.