PFF projects the Aggies' star pass rusher to land with a Super Bowl contender, significantly boosting their defensive line in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The 2026 NFL Draft is coming up very quickly, and Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell is one of the guys who most people think will go in the first round to a team needing some help getting to the quarterback.
And in a recent mock draft by PFF's Max Chadwick, he thinks the Aggies star could be going to a contender.
With the 29th overall pick in the first round of his mock, he has the Kansas City Chiefs drafting Howell and bolstering their defensive line.
"Chris Jones is the best pass-rushing defensive tackle in the league, but the Chiefs need more juice along the edge," Chadwick writes. "Howell has the second-shortest arms ever recorded for an edge defender (30 1/4 inches), but he logged 90.0-plus PFF pass-rush grades in three consecutive seasons."
Howell’s rise to draft prominence has been fueled by a dominant year with the Aggies in his senior season.
The 22-year-old edge rusher racked up 31 total tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 14 tackles for loss, all of which led to him being named All-American for the first time in his college career. He also showed his versatility by defending six passes at the line despite his wingspan.
Before arriving in College Station, Howell began his career at Bowling Green, where he steadily developed into a productive pass rusher. Over three seasons with the Falcons, he totaled 56 tackles and 11.5 sacks while earning All-MAC honors after leading the conference in sacks during the 2023 season. His success there helped pave the way for his transfer to Texas A&M, where he elevated his game on a national stage.
If the mock draft projection holds true, Howell would join a Chiefs defense that has consistently relied on strong pass rushing to complement its high-powered offense. Kansas City has built a reputation for developing defensive playmakers, and Howell’s speed and aggressiveness could allow him to contribute early in his NFL career.
For Texas A&M fans, Howell’s potential first-round selection would continue the program’s strong pipeline of defensive talent to the professional level. His journey—from overlooked recruit to one of the top edge defenders in college football—has made him one of the most compelling stories of the Aggies’ recent seasons.