The Detroit Lions' turnaround over the past few NFL seasons has been almost miraculous, with head coach Dan Campbell now leading a Super Bowl contender, after years of losing in the Motor City.
Thanks to the same grit and determination often displayed by Campbell, the Lions' defense has emerged to become one of the more dangerous units in the league. Led by 24-year-old defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit has registered 28 sacks and 35 tackles for loss through Week 10 of the schedule. As the team's blue-chip defender, Hutchinson was just awarded a four-year, $180 million contract extension late last month.
So, why not pair him with a tenacious defender on the other side of the line? The AllSportsPeople mock draft views EDGE rusher Cashius Howell from Texas A&M to be the perfect pick to form a playmaking pair with Hutchinson.
The 6'2", 248-pound Howell played in 13 games with one start and had 40 tackles, four sacks, and one interception in 2024. He's picked up right where he left off this season and has thrust himself into late first-round projections.
Howell is a high-motor, high-energy player who appears to have the right temperament to be a tone-setter as a defensive player," the Draft Network writes about the fifth-year senior. "[He] has the strength as a pass rusher to consistently win with power, and the strength in the run game to set a defined edge and stop ball carriers on an outside track."
On the downside, the site adds:
"Howell looks uncomfortable at times when asked to drop into coverage. This could be attributed to a lack of reps. He needs to be coached on keys and technique dropping into coverage against the pass."Cash