SAUK RAPIDS — Coming home to Minnesota was definitely the right choice for Blake Cashman.
The Eden Prairie native and linebacker signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings in March 2024 after two seasons with the Houston Texans.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman talks to a young fan during his appearance at the grand opening of the ETS Performance – Central Lakes facility on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Sauk Rapids.
Andy Rennecke / St. Cloud LIVE
Cashman ended up having his best season as a professional, finishing with a career-high 112 tackles and 4.5 sacks in a season where Minnesota surpassed expectations by finishing 14-3.
“It was the most fun I’ve had playing football since I was in high school,” Cashman said. “Winning makes everything better, but we firmly believe we can do the same thing this year. We have a lot of synergy as a team. There are a lot of unselfish players, coaches and individuals in our building.”
Cashman was in Sauk Rapids on Sunday, July 13, to make an appearance at the grand opening of the
ETS Performance – Central Lakes training facility
. The facility is located at 1000 South Benton Drive in Suite 411 in Sauk Rapids.
ETS Performance has 17 facilities in Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. According to the ETS website, its “system improves athletic performance of players by providing them with advanced insights into their performance.”
Former Vikings players Adam Thielen, Chad Greenway, Kirk Cousins, Marcus Sherels, and current Vikings CJ Ham and Harrison Phillips are all partners in the business.
While Cashman doesn’t have any business stake in ETS, he routinely trains at one of the facilities in the Twin Cities during the offseason.
“I have amazing relationships with the people who do have a stake in it,” Cashman said. “It’s a special place for me because of those relationships and the connections I’ve made while training at ETS.”
Cashman held a youth football camp at
Michie Field earlier Sunday. A total of 120 campers came out to the camp.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman speaks to the crowd at the grand opening of the ETS Performance – Central Lakes facility on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Sauk Rapids.
Andy Rennecke / St. Cloud LIVE
“It was a good turnout and a lot of fun. I got to be the all-time quarterback for 7-on-7 drills. I just fed off the kids’ energy,” Cashman said. “It brought me back to my youth football days. I grew up going to camps like that in my community. To be able to return the favor was special. It’s kind of a full-circle moment for me.”
Vikings’ training camp begins on Tuesday, July 22, at TCO Stadium in Eagan. With Brian Flores back for his third year as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, expectations are high for
to have another strong season on that side of the ball.
“He’s a joy to play for. There is a lot of trust with Brian Flores calling our defense,” Cashman said. “He always talks about having unique relationships and playing free and playing with confidence. I think fans see that in our playing style. He’s a smart defensive coordinator. He understands how to make offenses one-dimensional, which is really hard in our league. His defense allows guys at every position to make big plays.
“When you have 11 guys with their ears pinned back and ready to go, you’re going to have a monster defense.”
Cashman has helped form a stalwart defensive front for the Vikings, along with linebackers/edge rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. and linemen Harrison Phillips. Minnesota added veteran defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in the offseason.
“We have a talented roster and kept important pieces in the offseason,” Cashman said. “With another year in the system, both offensively and defensively, we can keep getting to the next level. The sky is the limit for us. When you read things in the media, people don’t have very high hopes for us. I think we can have just as good of a year as we did last year.”
Minnesota will be led by second-year
this season after letting last year’s starter, Sam Darnold,
in the offseason. McCarthy, whom the Vikings drafted ninth overall in the 2024 NFL draft, missed last season with a knee injury.
Cashman said the Vikings are confident McCarthy can lead them to the same success that Darnold did last season.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman signs an autograph for Heath Dwyer, 10, Sartell, at the grand opening of the ETS Performance – Central Lakes facility on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Sauk Rapids.
Andy Rennecke / St. Cloud LIVE
“We’re all confident he’s going to play well,” Cashman said. “The kid is a winner. He’s one of the most competitive players I’ve been around. He has a lot of confidence as a young quarterback. He understands that there is going to be ups and downs, but it’s not going to shake his confidence or disrupt his focus. We couldn’t ask for a better young leader and QB. He has all the tools to be great.”
The NFC North will again be one of the top divisions in the NFL this season. The Vikings, defending NFC North champion Detroit and Green Bay all think they can win the division this season. Even upstart Chicago, led by new head coach Ben Johnson, thinks it can contend.
“One of the big reasons I signed with Minnesota was to play in this division,” Cashman said. “There is such great competition in it. It’s always tough and hard football. As a football fan, and a guy who spent his whole life around football, you gotta love that. This year, it’s going to be the hardest division in football. I think the Bears, with a new head coach, and preparing (quarterback) Caleb Williams, I think he’s going to be the truth. Detroit has a very talented roster. Green Bay has been good for a long time.
“It’s going to be tough, but a lot of fun.”
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (left) signs an autograph for Eddy Foss, 11, Becker, during his appearance at the grand opening of the ETS Performance – Central Lakes facility on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Sauk Rapids.
Andy Rennecke / St. Cloud LIVE