It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys will be in the pass rusher market again this offseason. With Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler, and Sam Williams all set to hit free agency, the Cowboys need to completely revamp the unit. Free agency could be an option, but the better play might be to draft a pass rusher early.
The 2026 NFL Draft is loaded with pass-rush talent, especially in Round 1. There are several players worthy of top-12 consideration and a few others who will go shortly after that. And one of the more productive pass-rushers in the class is Cashius Howell, a transfer from Bowling Green, who was among the most dominant players in the SEC this season. Could he be an option for Dallas in Round 1? Let’s dive in.
Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Notes:
Height: 6032
Weight: 248
Expected 40 Yard Dash Time: 4.70-4.75
Recruiting: 3-star recruit. No. 2,162 prospect in the 2021 class, No. 207 ranked athlete.
College Production: 127 career tackles, 27.0 sacks, 35.5 tackles for a loss, 15 pass deflections, and 3 forced fumbles in 56 games (2021-2025).
Positives:
- Fantastic flexibility and can drop his weight and bend around the edge.
- Explosive first step that gains a lot of ground quickly.
- Has multiple high-end pass-rush moves including a deadly spin move.
- Motor never stops as a pass rusher. Recorded multiple sacks in 2025 due to effort.
- Multiple years of sack production including two double-digit sack seasons (2025, 2023).
- Does have experience dropping back into coverage.
Howell was put on this earth to rush the passer, and he does it as well as anyone in this class. His first step along with his bend, makes him a nightmare matchup for slow-footed offensive tackles. What makes him even more unstoppable is that he is a relentless pass rusher who will never give up on a player. For what he lacks in size and length, he more than makes up for it with quickness and motor.
Negatives:
- Historically small arm length (30.75”) and wingspan (73.5”).
- Undersized to be an every-down defensive end. At his best in two-point stance.
- Doesn’t win very often with power. And lack of length could contribute to that.
- Only an average run defender in college. Might need to be a part-time player right away in the NFL.
- Tailed off at the end of the 2025 College Football season.
The concerns are obvious with Howell, as his length will knock him off boards completely. And because he is an undersized pass rusher, he can struggle against the run, and athletic tackles can match his speed on the outside. He’s not going to be for everyone, and it’s going to take a specific scheme/coach to allow him to succeed.
Cashius Howell NFL Player Comparison: Steelers EDGE Nick Herbig
Despite fantastic college production, Herbig fell to the fourth round and into the laps of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Like Howell, Herbig has short arms (31 ¼”), but his ability to bend around the edge and play with a relentless motor has allowed him to be one of the league’s most productive pass rushers on a per-snap basis. Herbig does play in a scheme that allows him to stand up and move all around, which Howell might need, as well.
Cashius Howell NFL Draft Grade: Late Round 1/Early Round 2
The NFL has become more open to undersized pass rushers with players like Nik Bonitto, Haason Reddick, and Nolan Smith all having success. So coming in under 250 pounds is no longer a death knell. But, there will be teams who remove Howell from their draft boards because his lack of length will be an all-time outlier. That would be a mistake.
Howell is too talented of a pass rusher to pass up and he’s got a litany of moves and counters in his bag. He might need to be a part-time pass rusher only early in his career, but that’s more than okay. Howell can provide value right away as a speed rusher, especially in a wide-9 defense, and he should come off the board sometime late in Round 1.