NFL Draft 2019: 5 sleepers the Steelers should draft in the first round

Blake Cashman, LB, Minnesota

One spot that is constantly mocked to the Pittsburgh Steelers is linebacker. It is normally a name like Michigan’s Devin Bush or even Alabama’s Mack Wilson. With Bush more likely to go closer to the top ten than at 20, his name can effectively be crossed off. Wilson on the other hand is a name to keep an eye on. A limited athletic profile and poor testing in the areas he did test will drop him on the Steelers board.

An interesting prospect and a riser throughout the draft process is Minnesota’s Blake Cashman. Another elite athlete, Cashman burst on the scene after the regular season ended with phenomenal testing. Lost in the shuffle a bit at Minnesota, Cashman is a rangy linebacker and elite athlete. His short arms should not stop him from hearing his name called inside the top two rounds of the draft.

While this seems like a reach, this is the same team that spent a first round pick on Terrell Edmunds only a year ago. If they fall in love with a prospect and don’t expect him to last until their next pick they will draft him. Cashman would jump right in the middle of their defense and provide some much needed speed. His athleticism make him an ideal NFL linebacker for the era of space and sideline-to-sideline speed. Pittsburgh needs a linebacker in a bad year to need one, which could push Cashman into their first round selection.