Brandon

Burton

A favorite of draftniks three offseasons ago, Burton “fell” to the fifth round in 2011 and has been a complete non-factor through two years. He appeared in only four games last season and didn’t discover the statsheet. Burton was unable to beat out the likes of A.J. Jefferson and Marcus Sherels for playing time.

A fifth-round pick in 2011 out of Utah, Burton has struggled mightily through two NFL seasons but the Bills are desperate for corners after losing Stephon Gilmore potentially until midseason. Burton will open the season low on the depth chart, however, and is unlikely to help early in the year.

24-year-old Burton was waived with an undisclosed injury last week. He lasted just two months on the Colts’ roster. Burton has appeared in 19 career games over the last three seasons.

The Vikings’ fifth-round pick in the 2011 draft, 24-year-old Burton is now with his fourth organization after previously spending time in Minnesota, Cincinnati, and Buffalo. He’s appeared in 19 career games with one start.

Burton wound up playing just 17 defensive snaps in Buffalo after they claimed him off waivers right before the season. He was a 2011 fifth-round pick out of Utah. Burton’s next team will be his third as an NFL player.

Listed at 6'0/185 with a reported 4.35 forty time, Burton intercepted just three passes in three seasons with the Utes but was considered one of the nation’s top pure cover corners. Burton also indicated that he received a favorable projection by the NFL Draft Advisory Committee, probably as a top-60 selection. He may have to run a sub-4.4 to be a first-round pick.

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock mentioned Burton’s early-season 2010 performance against Jonathan Baldwin, in which he consistently gave the Pitt wideout problems in “press-man” coverage. Baldwin did come out of that game with four catches, 71 yards, and a touchdown, though. Burton only had three interceptions in his college career. He’s a late day-two prospect.

Burton has good size at 6-feet, 188 pounds, but does not have speed typical of an NFL cornerback, and made a conspicuous lack of big plays while at Utah. Most adept at playing off the line, look for him to typically be used when the Vikings go to press-heavy coverage.

Burton ran 4.53 at the Combine, so this isn’t much of an improvement. He stood on the rest of his numbers. An underclassman, Burton is a third- to fourth-round prospect lacking ideal speed. While we like his size (6'0/188), Burton was mostly underwhelming in college, particularly in terms of big plays.