How Vikings DC Brian Flores found ILB Blake Cashman is something everyone can relate to

When you are on the search for players to add to your football team, there are a myriad of different ways to go about it. You have pro scouts that scour the league to find talented players for this season and beyond.

As we learned with the Minnesota Vikings discovering defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez, teams can find players in the most unique ways possible. Word of mouth is a powerful thing and the Vikings took advantage.

Brian Flores found Blake Cashman because of his kids

Word of mouth is how most people will find out about a good restaurant or a service around town. Every so often, you hear about something that can change everything. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores heard about inside linebacker Blake Cashman from former Minnesota Gophers linebackers coach Mike Sherels. Their daughters had become friends and they started talking.

“This was October, November of last year; we ended up hanging out together with the daughters,” Flores said. “He’s like, ‘You know, Blake Cashman, I had him at the U. He was the best guy we had.’ I didn’t know much about Blake at that point. That’s when I turned on the tape, and [Sherels] was right

"But it’s such a random conversation. That happens. You have a conversation with somebody, you don’t know somebody all that well, but it’s someone who has no agenda — just a former coach who knows him personally, speaks highly of him. You look him up, and there he is.”

Quite the random sequence of events that led Flores to Cashman and something everyone, especially parents, can relate to. Cashman didn't just play well for the Vikings, he had a historic day in doing something that hasn't been done since 2013.

The Vikings are in great shape right now, mainly due to the work that people like Flores have done.

Related: Sam Darnold's renaissance season is epitomized by Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell having the utmost confidence in him