The Jets chose to add depth on defense with the pick they made two trades to acquire at the NFL draft on Saturday.
With the ninth pick in the fifth round and the 157th overall (from Tennessee), the Jets selected Minnesota inside linebacker Blake Cashman, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship for his final two seasons.
He led the Golden Gophers as a senior with 104 tackles (15 for a loss) and added 2.5 sacks in 12 games.
“They were a team that reached out to me a few times between the combine and the draft. I felt like it was a great fit and I couldn’t be more pumped up and ready to go,” Cashman said of the Jets.
Cashman notably underwent three shoulder surgeries during his collegiate career, one on each shoulder in 2016 and another on his left shoulder in 2017.
“My shoulders feel great,” he said. “Over the past year I’ve worked with a specialist and had designed my training around making sure my shoulders are very stable and healthy. I haven’t had any issues with them recently.”
