The Vikings’ Roster Loser Few are Noticing
Basically everyone can see that most of the d-lineman got bumped down (other than Jalen Redmond) due to the DT draft picks. Likewise, there has been some added competition at corner, center, and even punter.
Lost in the shuffle, perhaps, has been the impact on veteran linebacker Blake Cashman.
For a little while, I’ve written about the status of Ivan Pace Jr. on the Vikings’ roster. After all, the former UDFA had gone from rookie starter to playing a minimized role as a sophomore. And then his third season involved getting fully demoted, placed in a LB3 job behind Eric Wilson and Cashman. Going into 2026, is Mr. Pace the linebacker who is most impacted? Or, perhaps, is his teammate facing the toughest battle?
Blake Cashman Among The Vikings’ Roster Losers
After the 2026 NFL Draft, Dustin Baker considered the impact within the team’s in-house talents. Ivan Pace came in at No. 2 for players most impacted by the draft haul.
“Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson will start as off-ball linebackers in 2026,” Baker begins. “Then, the Vikings used a 2nd-Round pick on Jake Golday. He’s the new youth movement at ILB. Pace Jr. is scheduled to be a Viking through the 2026 campaign. If Golday is worth the draft pick, that probably puts Pace Jr. on the chopping block next offseason.”
No doubt, Mr. Pace is facing an uphill battle. At no point has he been a fantastic option in coverage, but he at least excelled when allowed to come forward. Let the ‘backer blitz and chase down runners, right? The great issue last season were the missed tackles.
Where Pace can find some optimism is that he’s still young and has a history of playing strong ball. The former Cincinnati Bearcat is still only 25. Even better, his cap charge is coming in at roughly $3.5 million. Sitting on the defender for the upcoming season has merit if only to help on specials and be a backup linebacker. Doing more than that — getting back to becoming a starter — means arriving at a nice bonus for the team and player alike.
What of Blake Cashman?
The veteran is still a good football player, doing well last season even as he took a step back from his debut Vikings season. In 2024, Cashman was excellent. His stats showed 112 tackles to stand alongside 4.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, 8 tackles for loss, and 8 passes defended. Just great ball from the free-agent addition.
Working against him, though, is that he has battled injuries in each season in Minnesota. Worse yet, Cashman is coming up on his 30th birthday (May 10th). There’s then the reality of a roster cut. Doing so would mean freeing up $7,632,353 if it occurs after June 1st.
Does he meet a similar fate to Harrison Phillips, somebody who got traded away last August?
Moving on from Blake Cashman would be about more than just cap savings. After all, the decision to cut or trade could have already occurred if money was so tight. What would be needed is to see a roster competition where Minnesota feels really good about the other linebackers.
Begin with Eric Wilson. He was brought back on a reasonably hefty three-year deal. At minimum, Mr. Wilson appears likely to be around for two more seasons.
Next up would be Pace. He does need a bounce back, something that feels far off given the recent play. Nevertheless, the option is there. On just a basic level, Pace is a great fit for a Brian Flores who is all gas and no brakes.
Choosing Jake Golday in the 2nd is indicative of enthusiasm for what he can offer. Again, there does need to be a process of proving to be ready, but that’s not too hard to envision.
What would then make things intense for the Vikings’ roster is if the UDFA linebacker adds — Keli Lawson and/or Scooby Williams — step up. Or does the safety depth show itself to be fantastic? All of Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, Tavierre Thomas, and Jakobe Thomas are very likely to make the 53-man roster. Seeing Kahlef Hailassie be too good to cut would make things snug, especially with Flores being so willing to shuffle a safety into linebacker spot.
Oh, and then there’s that Harrison Smith guy. Welcoming him back to town means carving out a roster spot. He, too, can play in the box.
Linebacker Blake Cashman is very likely to be a key component of Minnesota’s roster for 2026. He’s a good ball player and a very good leader, fully earning the green dot due to his abilities as a communicator and versatile skills. What does need to be remembered, though, is the investment in Wilson, the 2nd devoted to Golday, and then the retention of Pace. All of the sudden, Cashman needs to compete in a way he didn’t in the past pair of seasons.
Keep an eye on the ‘backer battle.
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