Could the Carolina Panthers swing big on this dynamic defender?

The Carolina Panthers attempted to address their shoddy pass rush during the offseason, adding pieces like Patrick Jones II and Tershawn Wharton via free agency while also nabbing Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen in the NFL Draft.

Unfortunately, none of it has worked thus far for the Panthers, who rank dead last in the NFL with just two sacks entering Week 5.

While Carolina has numerous needs up and down its roster (which may potentially include the quarterback position based on how Bryce Young plays the remainder of the season), it may need to address is pass-rushing situation once again.

More specifically, Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine has linked the Panthers to Texas A&M Aggies star Cashius Howell in the 2026 NFL Draft, noting that his quick-twitch athleticism would fit Ejiro Evero's system pretty well.

Howell currently leads the SEC with seven sacks this season to go along with 13 tackles, eight tackles for loss and a couple of passes defended.

The Kansas City native began his collegiate career at Bowling Green in 2021 and spent three years with the Falcons, leading the MAC with 9.5 sacks during his final campaign with the team in 2023. He transferred to Texas A&M ahead of the 2024 season and finished with 40 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and seven passes defended.

A former college teammate of Scourton's, Howell's draft stock is up in the air at the moment, but if he continues performing at this level, there is no doubt that he could push himself into Day 1 status or at least establish himself as a very early Day 2 pick (he was generally viewed as a Day 3 talent last season).

Of course, the question is whether or not the Panthers would use another early pick on an edge rusher when they took Scourton and Umanmielen in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively, last April. But if the situation calls for it, Carolina may be left with no choice.

"Edge rusher hasn't been discussed with the Panthers yet and isn't listed as a top-three need because they used a second-round pick on Nic Scourton and a third-rounder on Princely Umanmielen. However, it's time to at least have a conversation since the defense ranks dead last in sacks with just two through four games," Ballentine wrote.

Ballentine has a point. If the Panthers' pass rush continues to be lifeless through the rest of the campaign, Carolina will have to strongly consider dedicating another high pick toward a solution.