Dallas Cowboys Linked to Vikings Linebacker Blake Cashman in Potential NFL Trade Before Training Camp

The Dallas Cowboys have spent the last year aggressively reshaping their defense, making major investments across the defensive line and secondary in hopes of building a unit capable of returning the franchise to legitimate Super Bowl contention.

Now, with training camp rapidly approaching, one glaring question still remains:

Who will anchor the middle of the defense at linebacker?

According to recent NFL trade speculation, the answer could potentially come from the Minnesota Vikings.

Veteran linebacker Blake Cashman has emerged as a possible trade candidate entering the 2026 NFL season, and multiple analysts believe Dallas could be one of the most logical landing spots if Minnesota decides to move him before the regular season begins.

The Cowboys have undeniably upgraded several key defensive positions over the past two offseasons.

Dallas strengthened its defensive front by acquiring Pro Bowl defensive tackles Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark in blockbuster trades during 2025. The front office followed that up by trading for former first-round edge rusher Rashan Gary earlier this offseason while also selecting UCF pass rusher Malachi Lawrence with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The secondary also received a massive upgrade.

Dallas signed veteran safety Jalen Thompson to a $33 million free-agent contract — reportedly the franchise’s largest open-market defensive signing since 2012 — before later selecting Caleb Downs out of Ohio State with the No. 11 overall pick.

On paper, the Cowboys defense now looks significantly more talented than the group that struggled throughout the 2025 season.

But linebacker remains a major concern.

Dallas attempted to address the position earlier by trading with the San Francisco 49ers for linebacker Dee Winters, a move many analysts viewed positively. However, Winters is still largely considered more of a complementary piece than a true long-term defensive centerpiece.

That reality has fueled speculation surrounding Cashman.

Recently, Pro Football Focus NFL analyst Bradley Locker listed Cashman among the league’s top trade candidates ahead of training camp, citing both contractual circumstances and Minnesota’s recent roster decisions.

Cashman is entering the final year of the three-year, $22.5 million contract he originally signed with the Vikings back in 2024. His 2026 salary cap number of roughly $7.5 million would not create an overwhelming financial burden for Dallas, especially compared to other potential linebacker targets around the league.

More importantly, Cashman brings proven production.

Despite missing time once again due to injuries, the veteran linebacker finished the 2025 season with an impressive 144 total tackles in just 13 games. It marked his third consecutive season surpassing the 100-tackle mark.

In 2023, Cashman recorded 106 tackles in 14 games. In 2024, he followed that up with 112 tackles in another injury-shortened season.

Availability has clearly become part of the conversation surrounding him.

Still, when healthy, Cashman has consistently been one of the more productive downhill linebackers in football.

Locker acknowledged that Cashman’s overall performance dipped during 2025 compared to previous seasons, particularly in pass coverage.

“Once the centerpiece of Minnesota’s fabulous defense, Cashman could be on the move after a down year,” Locker wrote. “In 2025, Cashman didn’t look like the strong linebacker of the last two years. His overall PFF grade dipped from 72.0 to 63.6, punctuated by his 48.6 PFF coverage grade.”

Even so, Cashman remained highly effective against the run. According to PFF metrics, he posted a strong 7.7% run-stop rate while maintaining a low 5.3% missed tackle percentage — exactly the type of physical consistency Dallas lacked throughout stretches of last season.

The Vikings’ recent offseason moves have only intensified speculation about Cashman’s future.

Minnesota drafted linebacker Jake Golday in the second round while also extending veteran linebacker Eric Wilson. Those decisions suggest the organization may already be preparing for a future transition at the position.

Some around the league believe either Cashman or Ivan Pace Jr. could eventually become expendable as Minnesota reshapes its linebacker room.

For Dallas, the timing makes sense.

The Cowboys desperately need more stability at inside linebacker after last year’s disastrous defensive campaign. Dallas finished 30th in total defense during the 2025 season, and inconsistent linebacker play was a major factor behind those struggles.

The organization attempted a midseason fix by trading for former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson at the trade deadline. However, Wilson barely saw the field under former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and ultimately retired following the season without making a meaningful impact in Dallas.

That failure left the Cowboys entering another offseason searching for answers.

There are also lingering durability concerns surrounding linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, arguably the most talented linebacker currently on Dallas’ roster. Overshown has flashed significant athletic upside during his NFL career, but injuries have repeatedly prevented him from completing a full season.

Beyond Overshown and Winters, the Cowboys’ linebacker depth chart remains extremely thin.

That is why Cashman feels like a realistic and potentially valuable target.

Unlike other linebackers who may become available via trade — such as Jordyn Brooks of the Miami Dolphins — Cashman would not immediately require a massive contract extension. Brooks reportedly wants a lucrative new deal following his dominant 183-tackle campaign in 2025, making him a far more complicated financial investment.

Cashman offers a cheaper alternative with less long-term risk.

For a Cowboys front office attempting to maximize roster flexibility while still competing at a championship level, that balance matters significantly.

The question now becomes whether Dallas believes its current linebacker room is good enough entering training camp — or if another aggressive defensive move is still coming.

If the Cowboys truly want to complete the overhaul of a defense that underperformed badly last season, acquiring an experienced, productive linebacker like Blake Cashman may be exactly the type of move needed to finish the job.