Scouting NFL Draft prospects is similar to opening Christmas presents. There are high-end prospects that have been on your list since the summer and a handful that truly make your day. There are stocking-stuffer sleepers and the dutiful socks and t-shirts that you appreciate, even without the excitement.
Each cycle offers the uncertainty of the unknown, and while every year's bounty is different, draft season remains rather predictable. We can count on a handful of outliers hoping to outperform the red flags in their profile, churning up discourse in the process.
Last season, Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart and his 4.5 career sacks landed in Round 1. His teammate, edge rusher Cashius Howell, will hope to do the same in April.
Howell's strengths make a strong case for Round 1
As far as college production goes, the nation offers fewer pass rushers more proven than Howell. A fifth-year senior, he led the MAC with 9.5 sacks in 2023 and is currently pacing the SEC with 11.5 entering the final week of the regular season. He's posted double-digit tackles for loss twice in the last three seasons and logged 13 passes defended in his two years at Texas A&M.
On Saturdays, he's a tour de force, and there's reason to believe he'll get to the quarterback on Sundays, too.
Howell is one of the more dynamic athletes in this class. He's explosive off the line of scrimmage but is fluid enough to move well in every direction, making him a coverage asset off the edge but also a creative, relentless finisher when opposing linemen win early in the rep. Howell's motor runs hot, and his athleticism will help him in the pursuit of ball carriers and quarterbacks alike. That skill alone could help him beat hypothetical expected sack numbers.
Likewise, Howell's bend is a lucrative tool in his pass-rushing arsenal. His flexibility stands out, and it's easy to see him winning with ghost moves at the next level.
Against the run, Howell is fighting an uphill battle because of his 6'3", 248-pound frame. Even so, his strength is impressive, and his anchor exceeds expectations. That strength translates to speed-to-power fairly well, and the occasional bull rush can surprise opposing tackles. Subsequently, he has a handful of ways to sustainably win against quality tackles.
Howell's weaknesses headline his profile
An unfortunate reality is that the conversation about Howell starts with his arm length. At 30 6/8", he is on the wrong side of common NFL thresholds. For reference, that mark would beat one player in Mockdraftable's database of Combine-testing edge rushers, dating back to 1999. Of that sample, 452 have verified arm lengths. Again, Howell's arms currently beat one of them (Nate Williams).
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That's a problem, and it's one that shows up regularly on tape. His hand usage isn't horrible, but he's not a true technician -- an intuitive consequence of not getting his hands inside. Bigger tackles can regularly dictate the terms of engagement, stymying him in ways his athleticism struggles to make up for.
As Howell's competition gets bigger, stronger, and faster, there is less room for him to win with speed, and it's likely he gives back some power. To his credit, there are success stories to point to; nobody cares that Trey Hendrickson and Aidan Hutchinson have short arms. Both of them, though, have a full inch in arm length on Howell and at least a dozen pounds.
Howell's NFL projection
Part of the reason why Howell's discourse will be prominent is that it's a confusing profile. I don't know if his freakish athleticism and surprising strength will make him another outlier.
There are reasons to believe in his projection. Howell's a great athlete with good enough height/weight marks and a track record of production. He plays the run better than most sub-250-pound edge rushers and has a blend of traits that bode well with winning on the margins.
| Pass Rush Win Rate | 21.8% |
| Sacks | 11.5 |
| Pressures | 38 |
| 2025 Production Ratio [(Sacks+TFLs)/Games] | 2.23 |
| Career Production Ratio | 1.14 |
| PFF Run Defense Grade | 72.2 |
His knack for finding the football, finishing sacks, and playing the run well is somewhat reminiscent of Pittsburgh Steelers starter Alex Highsmith, and teams would spend real capital to add that kind of talent.
Before his final collegiate games and the pre-draft circuit, Howell's blend of traits, film, and production has earned him a second-round grade on my board. The drastic limits of his arm length will keep me from giving him a Round 1 grade, but it only takes one team to fall in love.
Whether he begins his career as a rotational rusher or just the second-best edge on his defense, there's room for him to grow into a starting role. I'd take that risk on Day 2.
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