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2019 NFL Draft: Top defensive players at each position

By Brooks Austin

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 04: Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars celebrates after a tackle in the first half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at TDECU Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 04: Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars celebrates after a tackle in the first half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at TDECU Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 27: President Ted Tollner of the Holiday Bowl congratulates Blake Cashman #36 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers for winning the defensive player of the game trophy after defeating the Washington State Cougars 17-12 in the Holiday Bowl at at Qualcomm Stadium on December 27, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 27: President Ted Tollner of the Holiday Bowl congratulates Blake Cashman #36 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers for winning the defensive player of the game trophy after defeating the Washington State Cougars 17-12 in the Holiday Bowl at at Qualcomm Stadium on December 27, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Linebacker #3: Blake Cashman, Minnesota

Sound the bias alarm, and sound it now. Did Blake Cashman join us on the NFL Mocks Podcast? Absolutely, but there’s no reason this former walk-on won’t make an impact at the NFL level.

This is a young man who came into college football as a walk-on at cornerback. Within a calendar year, he’s dominating special teams reps and earns playing time at linebacker.

By the time he was senior for the Golden Gophers he was a team captain and tallied over 104 tackles in his last year at Minnesota. I truly believe, had it not been for the shoulder injuries (both of which he played through in college), this guy would be a lock for an early day two selection.

He’s the modern day NFL Linebacker. Coming from a DB background, this is a guy that has shown the ability to cover and make impact plays on the ball.

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