Cashius Howell is projected to be a round one pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He's not going to be in the same tier of names like Rueben Bain Jr. or David Bailey, but he should be off the board by the end of round one.
ESPN has put Howell in a great position to become a Week 1 starter with the Los Angeles Chargers, a playoff-caliber team that's looking for an answer after losing Odafe Oweh. Howell would be paired next to Khalil Mack, a nine-time Pro Bowler who's seen and done it all.
NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller says that the SEC leader in sacks last season still has some concerns despite being a projected first-round pick.
ESPN has Cashius Howell picked at No. 22 to the Los Angeles Chargers
"The loss of Odafe Oweh in free agency opens the door for a speed rusher in Round 1. Howell led the SEC with 11.5 sacks and added 40 pressures. The 6-foot-3 edge doesn't have ideal NFL length with 30¼-inch arms but is a blur off the line of scrimmage, and he consistently wins with burst and a low center of gravity. Howell can learn from Khalil Mack for a season while working in sub-package roles."Matt Miller
The small arms seem to be a theme in this draft. Bain Jr. has been at the center of controversy for his small arms, but he could still easily end up being a top 10 pick. In this mock draft, Howell is picked even higher than the other star Miami pass rusher, Akeem Mesidor. Despite the critique, Howell's short arms don't seem to bother Miller all that much if he's picked above Mesidor.
If we put Howell next to one of the more seasoned edge rushers, next to Mack, he could learn from one of the best. Mack has racked up 113 sacks in his career, and it wouldn't hurt for one of the best pass rushers in this class to learn from one of the best in history.
Other than the Chargers, the Patriots also make sense for someone with a need for depth at defensive edge. Howell has a home somewhere, but he'd be in the best-case scenario with the Chargers.