Top 10 linebackers in the 2019 NFL Draft

#4 Blake Cashman, Minnesota

Even though Cashman was a first-team all-state performer as a senior and helped Eden Prairie High win four straight state titles in Minnesota, he had to walk on for the Gophers and it took him two year to earn a scholarship. He contributed on special teams as a true freshman and played excellent in a reserve role the following year, which he ended with a Holiday Bowl MVP trophy.

For some reason the Minnesota coaches asked him to come off the bench once again as a junior, despite valuable production, but he broke out last season. Cashman went for over 100 tackles, with 15 of them for loss, 2.5 sacks and a touchdown off a fumble recovery.

Man, I was upset about this. I was a good 30 names into my linebackers and had already moved onto different positions before Cashman had his tremendous combine performances, in which he ran a 4.5 flat, had top five numbers in both leaping events, a sub-seven second three-cone drill and one of the best 20-yard shuttles at the position. I’m really glad I still got into his tape – just in case you are wondering how he shot up my board – because holy cow, can that kid play.

Cashman trusts what his eyes tell him and is quick to shoot the gap against a pulling guard. He has the lateral agility and quick recognition skills to counter running backs looking to juke or cross him up. Cashman has that sideline-to-sideline speed NFL teams are looking for, when you see him chase down toss plays from the backside for three or four yards. He has that kind of ability to go over the top of blocks and clean up for contain players messing up their responsibility, but also has the short-area quickness to side-step blockers and get the ball-carrier to the ground. The one-year starter uses his hands as weapons against blockers in the run-game and shows good balance into contact, rarely being moved off the spot, plus he takes wide receivers trying to put hands on him personal.

Cashman displays fluid hips and sudden explosiveness in coverage, contesting catches at the last moment or shutting down YAC-opportunities. He is quick to race up against shallow crossers or swing routes to the running back and stop them for minimal gains with top-tier closing burst.

Cashman also has experience lining up in the slot and covering receivers man-to-man. He was utilized plenty as a blitzer and running backs are no match for him, as he uses his hands exceptionally well but can also simply go through those guys. He completely ran over a 215-pound J.K. Dobbins on the first play of that Ohio State game last season, who is used to trucking defenders himself.

Cashman was one of the most well-rounded linebackers in the nation, receiving a PFF grade of at least 80.0 in run-defense, coverage, pass-rush and tackling in 2018. He had huge games versus then-22nd-ranked Northwestern and made two outstanding fourth down stops plus several other nice plays against number three Ohio State last season-

With that being said, Cashman will overrun some plays or bite on eye-candy every once in a while and give up his responsibility, surrendering cutback lanes for the running back. He only has 30-inch arms and even though I think his take-on and disengaging techniques are very advanced for a college linebacker, he will struggle those big, long offensive linemen in the NFL getting into his face. Cashman doesn’t always deliver the pop as a tackler, rather attacking low and dragging guys down occasionally. You will also see him fall off the legs of ball-carriers with strong lower bodies, as he missed eight tackles overall last season.

Like I already said, I was uncommonly late to jump on the Blake Cashman hype train, but now I’m all on board. This kid a high energy player, who you see communicate constantly and he became a team captain after showing a lot of perseverance leading up to his senior year. He’s not the biggest hitter and there are some length concerns with him, but other than that he is everything you want athletically. I think Cashman would fit perfectly as a WILL linebacker in a system where he is kept clean to run around and make plays.