Blake Cashman has come full circle.
The former Eden Prairie High School star who played for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers has signed a three-year deal worth up to $25.5 million with the Minnesota Vikings, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The Vikings lost quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday but they’ve answered the bell with a trio of big-name free agent defensive signings as Cashman and edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel have all reportedly agreed to terms.
Read about Greenard, who has 12.5 sacks with the Texans in 2023, in full detail here.
Read about Van Ginkel, who graded fifth best on pass rush snaps among edge rushers in the NFL last season, according to Pro Football Focus, right here.
Cashman’s 83.7 defensive grade from PFF ranked fifth among all linebackers in the league in 2023. For context, Ivan Pace Jr. was the Vikings’ highest-graded linebacker last season and his 77.1 grade ranked 17th.
Blake Cashman allowed 4.5 yards per target as the nearest defender last season, 2nd-fewest among linebackers (min. 25 targets).
The Vikings allowed a 75.0% completion percentage in the middle third of the field last season, 3rd-highest in the NFL.#Skol https://t.co/zup2i2Lwja pic.twitter.com/petAhWAZpa
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 11, 2024
What do the arrivals of Greenard, Van Ginkel and Cashman mean? That’s to be determined, but we can take an educated guess and assume it means Danielle Hunter, Jordan Hicks and D.J. Wonnum might not be back. Greenard and Van Ginkel can be penciled in as the starting edge rushers in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ system, with Cashman and Pace Jr. working as the middle linebackers.
Eden Prairie High School won its fourth straight big school state championship during Cashman’s senior year in 2013-14.
