Texas A&M lost major NFL Draft talent, but Mike Elko’s rebuilt defensive line is already earning praise from inside the Aggies’ own locker room.
Texas A&M football has a new defensive line to build around in 2026, and Mike Elko’s latest front already has the attention of teammates who’ve had to block it.
The Aggies watched a program-record 10 players come off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft, including unanimous All-American edge rusher Cashius Howell, who left behind a massive production gap after posting 11.5 sacks.
Defensive linemen Albert Regis and Tyler Onyedim were also selected in the second and third rounds, respectively, giving Texas A&M a major reload job up front.
Elko saw it coming. Before last season, he projected that as many as 10 to 12 players from his 2025 roster could become draft picks, and the Aggies attacked the transfer portal with that future in mind.
Now, Northwestern transfer Anto Saka is expected to help replace Howell’s edge presence. At 6-foot-4 and nearly 260 pounds, Saka brings the size and athletic profile NFL scouts already like.
Inside, North Carolina transfer CJ Sims is positioned to step into the nose tackle role previously held by Regis, while Illinois transfer Angelo McCullum adds another veteran body to the rotation.
The biggest swing piece may be DJ Hicks. The junior defensive tackle is coming off a career-best season with 26 tackles and three sacks, and his next step could decide whether this group becomes good or truly dangerous.
One of the best endorsements has come from South Carolina transfer guard Trovon Baugh, who’s battling to start at right guard after logging 1,314 career blocking snaps.
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Baugh called the Aggies’ defensive line “a special group” and praised its physicality, competitiveness and intelligence.
That matters. A&M doesn’t just need names. It needs answers. Early signs suggest Elko’s rebuilt defensive front might have plenty.
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