Denver Broncos: Five prospects Elway passed on during 2019 NFL Draft

Blake Cashman, LB, Minnesota

When the Denver Broncos decided to not select Devin Bush in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, our Predominantly Orange slack channel began buzzing about possibly grabbing Minnesota’s Blake Cashman on day three of the draft and letting him compete with Jewell and Davis.

Cashman is a coverage linebacker who was a captain at Minnesota, and he was likely to be available on day three (which he was). Even our site expert Sayre Bedinger mocked Cashman to the Denver Broncos in round four, and at the conclusion of round one, he listed Cashman again as an option for the Broncos on day three.

So when the Broncos came on the board in the 5th round with the 156th pick, the general consensus was the pick would be Cashman.

Instead, Elway grabbed a pass-rushing linebacker in Justin Hollins from Oregon. While I won’t question Denver’s thinking that you can never have too many push rushers, with Cashman on the board and arguably the biggest weakness on the defense being off-ball linebacker, it made a ton of sense to take a flyer on this guy.

Denver didn’t, and the New York Jets jumped on the opportunity to grab Cashman just one pick later.

That’s quite a message being sent to current off-ball linebackers Todd Davis and Josey Jewell who have to be ecstatic there were no picks at their position.

If they struggle though I know I will be wondering what-if, especially if Cashman performs well.

For now though, in John Elway I trust.