Cashius Howell is off the board early in the second round, going to the Cincinnati Bengals. He will be reunited with Shemar Stewart, the Bengals' first-round pick from last year, to recreate the reign of terror that has been the Aggies' pass rush in College Station over the last few seasons.
We have drafted DE Cashius Howell with the no. 41 overall pick. pic.twitter.com/bL2i5GLRHg
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) April 24, 2026
Howell will fit right in immediately now that Trey Hendrickson has moved on for the Bengals. This is a hand in glove fit for Cincinnati, and it makes all the sense in the world for Howell, an Ohio native.
Cashius Howell selected 41st in NFL Draft by Cincinnati Bengals
Howell is not just a one-season wonder in the Maroon and White— far from it. While he waited behind a couple of high-round NFL draft picks in 2024 in Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton, insiders still mentioned him often as one of the most impressive players in an Aggie uniform: one who was just waiting to break out.
Well break out he did— from the bowl game in 2024 against USC on into this past season, which saw him named as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He led the conference with 11.5 sacks, becoming the first Aggie since 2017 to do so, and it was impressive to watch him stockpile each and every single one.
The concern has come with regard to his arm length. That was the big talking point when he was at the NFL Combine, and it has caused some to cool on him— but you can't argue with the speed with which he rushes the passer and the bend that he displays in doing so.
Howell will be racking up sacks in the league in no time, but he may not immediately be a starter. However, you can bet that quarterbacks in the AFC North will rue the day they have to play the Bengals soon enough now that Cashius is on the roster.
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