HOUSTON – Blake Cashman, the leading tackler on the AFC South division champion Texans' defense, joined the Minnesota Vikings on a three-year contract with a maximum value of $25.5 million, per a league source.
The Texans made Cashman an offer, but it was much lower than what he received from the Vikings. The deal was negotiated by Blake Baratz of Team IFA, a Minnesota-based agency, as Cashman joined his hometown NFL team. Cashman played collegiately at the University of Minnesota and is from Eden Prairie, Minn.
Due to an injury and not attending college football camps where he could have been exposed to more recruiters, Cashman was lightly recruited out of high school in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He enrolled at the University of Minnesota as a walk-on after considering North Dakota State, Minnesota-Duluth and St. Thomas where he would have played football and basketball.
Once overshadowed, from being 197 pounds as a high school senior to now being 6-foot-1, 237 pounds through his devotion to the weight room, getting drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round and having led the Texans with a career-high 106 tackles this season, it’s been quite a climb for Cashman.
Cashman told KPRC 2 on Sunday night his preference was to stay with the Texans with communication ongoing between him and the team.
League sources emphasized that Cashman is expected to have a strong market and was likely to test free agency.
“First and foremost, it’s going to come down to what my role is and how much of a priority I am for that team,” Cashman said Sunday night. “I feel like I’ve proved myself to be a three-down linebacker, whether it’s Mike linebacker or Will. Mike was new to me this year, I want to be able to listen to what opportunities are out there because it’s my first time in this position.
“I’ve made it very clear to the team and my agent that whatever opportunities come my way, Houston is going to have the chance to make an offer or counteroffer to keep me here because I do believe staying here is the best option. It’s great for both parties. They know me, I know them. What they do well is perfect for what I need. So, I’m not going to make any decisions without going back to Houston first.”
Cashman, a former special teams standout acquired in a trade from the Jets two seasons ago for a sixth-round draft pick, became the Texans’ leading tackler and their defensive signal caller last season in a career breakthrough season.
It wasn’t regarded as a lock at all that he’ll return and the Texans may explore a free agent market with an eye toward hard-hitting Tennessee Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who’s interested in the Texans, per sources, after playing for Texans coach DeMeco Ryans with the San Francisco 49ers.
“I think Cash’s role has kind of grown sort of incrementally each year,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said at the NFL scouting combine. “We traded for him with the idea that he would have an impact in the kicking game, which he has. I think when he’s had the opportunity to play in the defense, I mean he led us in tackles this year, which I’m sure nobody had in their bingo card. Cash has done a lot of great things for us. We’ll work through the process. If we have the opportunity to bring him back, I think he’ll have a good role on the team.”
Cashman started 13 of 14 games played last season, upgrading his durability after dealing with hamstring injuries in the past. He had two sacks for the season, intercepted his first career pass in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and had a career-high nine tackles for losses with five quarterback hits.
Cashman was ranked as the fourth best linebacker in pass coverage in the NFL by analytics sites.
“I think I definitely demonstrated that I can be a three-down linebacker,” Cashman said. “With Houston, I was able to demonstrate I can play multiple positions. Throughout the year, even in the same series, I was jumping between Mike, Sam and Will linebacker and was asked to do many things. So, it’s always good to be pinned as a smart player. As a linebacker, you are the quarterback of the defense. Versatility is something that’s always very important and very valued in this league.”
Cashman had 19 tackles in a win over the Arizona Cardinals. He combined with cornerback Shaq Griffin for a key tackle on New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara on a clutch fourth-down stop late in the fourth quarter to help preserve a win and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Cashman learned a lot from playing for Ryans, a former Pro Bowl linebacker.
“His intelligence is something every player benefits from,” Cashman said. “As a guy who played a game, he understands the challenge linebackers face from down to down in this league. He teaches us better techniques, using our hands to get off blocks, get in the window to make a PBU or better yet an interception, I was more prepared for every game and every situation because of DeMeco Ryans and the knowledge he shared with the team.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790
Photo: Sam Hodde / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images