With the 2025 NFL season officially concluding on Sunday night, the Carolina Panthers and general manager Dan Morgan will now prepare for a critical offseason.

Following the franchise’s incredible run last season, which resulted in the Panthers making the playoffs for the first time since 2017, Morgan and the front office will now hold the No. 19 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

One of the primary needs for Carolina next season will be an addition pass rusher to help out 2025 second-round pick Nic Scourton, who is coming off a terrific rookie season.

However, while the front four on defense needs to be addressed this offseason, there’s a good chance that the Panthers will be out of range for one of the top EDGE rushers in the first round. And while the organization could reunite Scourton with former college teammate Cashius Howell with their first-round pick, avoiding the Texas A&M pass rusher is for the best.

Prior to joining the Aggies in 2024, Howell was a prolific defender at Bowling Green in his first three seasons with the program. In 2023, Howell put himself on the map by recording 28 tackles, 10 tackles for losses, and 9.5 sacks with the Falcons, prompting him to enter the transfer portal.

This move would eventually pay off for the rising prospect, as he finished his last two seasons at the college level with 71 tackles, 22 tackles for losses, 15.5 sacks, and 13 pass deflections. Howell received an increased role in 2025 due to the departure of Scourton and former 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart, which allowed him to be the team’s leading pass rusher this past season.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, dipping into the Texas A&M pipeline for another defensive end may not be the correct decision in the first round.

One of the main concerns for Howell heading into the draft will be his small stature for a defensive end at the next level. At 6-foot-2, 248 lbs., the highly-touted defender lacks the size and strength in his game, which often forces him to rely on his quickness when pursuing the quarterback.

There are plenty of players in the NFL who are considered “speed rushers,” but his lack of physicality at the line of scrimmage will limit him against the best offensive tackles in the league.

This, however, does not mean that Howell cannot become a key weapon in the NFL, as there will likely be a place for his skill set. But selecting the Aggies’ playermaker in the first round would ultimately be a mistake, considering that there are prospects that could be taken at pick No. 19 and the fact that Carolina could fill the need in round two.

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