Cleveland Browns: 2019 7-Round mock draft, Vol. 3
By Peter Smith
Round 7 (via KC): Blake Cashman, LB, Minnesota – 6-2, 235 lbs. (Listed)
- 62 solo tackles (12.9 percent), 15 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks, 5 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble in 12 games of 2018 (Did not participate in Bowl Game).
Blake Cashman is a former walk on that really put things together this year to have a great season. Nothing about him is pretty or polished, but he looks good athletically and just finds way to make things happen.
Cashman is explosive downhill and has jolting strength. Minnesota loved to send him on blitzes because if he was isolated on a tailback, he was going to knock them backward whether they had the ball or not, then track down the quarterback. He’s aggressive, reads keys reasonably well but he does a great job of attacking angles so he can make plays on the football behind the line of scrimmage.
Capable of laying the wood on ball carriers, Cashman’s tackling technique is inconsistent. Occasionally he does it right and drives the opponent backward or into the ground. There are just so many times when he’s trying to wrestle guys to the ground or diving at them to get them onto the ground and that gets guys beat in the NFL.
Cashman can get to his zone drops and has pretty good range, but this is another area where he needs additional development. He will make some plays because he can fly around, but if he can clean up and further improve, there appears to be more in there.
Cashman looks like someone that can compete for depth, help on special teams and has upside. And the Browns have had success with late round and undrafted free agents willing to do dirty work. He looks like someone who might do well in testing, which would bolster his case.