Cincinnati adds Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell at No. 41, hoping his elite production can spark a badly needed pass-rush turnaround.
The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t get involved in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but they didn’t wait long to make a splash on Day 2.
With the No. 41 overall pick, the Bengals selected Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell, adding one of the SEC’s most productive defenders to a unit that badly needed help getting after the quarterback.
Cincinnati entered the draft without its original No. 10 pick after sending it to the New York Giants in the Dexter Lawrence trade.
That made Howell the Bengals’ first selection of the weekend, and it’s a clear swing at fixing one of the team’s biggest issues from last season.
Howell was a force at Texas A&M, finishing his college career with 27 sacks across five seasons. His production exploded over his final three years, when he piled up 25 sacks, including 11.5 in 2025.
That dominant final campaign helped him earn SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and pushed him firmly into the NFL Draft spotlight.
The pick also continues Cincinnati’s recent connection to Aggies pass rushers.
One year after taking Shemar Stewart in the first round, the Bengals went back to College Station for another defensive front piece.
There is one major talking point around Howell: arm length. His 30 1/4-inch arms are unusually short for an NFL edge rusher, and evaluators have questioned whether that will make it harder for him to disengage from blockers at the next level.
Howell has made it clear he isn’t worried. The Bengals are betting his burst, motor and proven production will matter far more than the measurement sheet.
For a Cincinnati defense that ranked near the bottom of the league and struggled to consistently pressure quarterbacks, Howell brings exactly what the Bengals needed: juice off the edge and a track record of finishing plays.
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