Texas A&M Edge Cashius Howell is Quarterback Minded

Texas A&M edge Cashius Howell is a problem.

He’s cat quick.

That’s the thing that stood out most on his 2025 game film.

He’s electric.

His movements are sudden.

Needless to say ⎯

That made life challenging for big ‘ol offensive tackles who are carrying around a lot more weight.

How challenging?

Per Pro Football Focus in 2025:

12 sacks

41 pressures

And that’s exactly the way it looked on tape.

Attack!

Ever heard the old football expression about pass rushers that they “have their ears pinned back?’

That’s Howell ⎯

He lives for passing situations. That’s because he’s loaded with pass-rushing moves:

• Bull rush
• Spin
• Head Fake
• Rip
• Swim
• Ghost Move

…then there’s his signature pass-rushing move, the dip-and-go.

Outside of the spin move, it’s his favorite. I’d say he depends on it too much, and it makes him too predictable at times for offensive tackles to anticipate, but it was also extremely effective.

What’s the dip-and-go?

That’s what I’m calling it ⎯

It’s when he comes off the snap fast and charges hard towards the back door of the pocket, and then right at the right moment, he artistically drops his weight and gets underneath the offensive tackle’s pad level. He then turns and bends the edge with excellent athletic ability, keeping the quarterback in his crosshairs.

Lookout!

What other traits does Howell have that make him a dangerous pass rusher?

• Tenacity
• Violence
• Active
• Unpredictable
• Can smell open space
• Short-area burst
• Good close
• Moves around and tests different offensive linemen

Howell also has moments when his energy level spikes. When he’s on like that, he’s practically unblockable. He can just take over. I saw it happen.

Knack for getting to the ball before the quarterback can throw it

When I was growing up as a Redskins fan, I’ll never forget watching Giants’ pass-rusher Lawrence Taylor. He had this uncanny ability to not only sack the quarterback, but also to get his hand on the ball before the quarterback could throw it, which caused fumbles.

Howell has that same kind of uncanny ability.

I noticed it several times while studying his game film during the 2025 season.

It’s an added plus.

Any weaknesses?

I’ll stop short of calling Howell a liability against the run, but he’s close.

Run defense is absolutely Howell’s weakest part of his game. That’s why I view Howell more as a pass-rushing specialist, opposed to a three-down defender.

2025:

• 31 tackles (21 solo)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, he threw up a few stops, but trust me, when I say he struggled against the run, I mean he struggled against the run. He looked worse against the run this time around than he did even on his 2024 game film. He looked sort of disinterested in run defense this season.

Just something to be aware of.

NFL projection

Let’s not kid ourselves ⎯

While run defense is “important,” in the NFL, it’s a passing league, where 31/32 teams passed the ball more than 50% of the time in 2025.

It’s all about ⎯

Passing the ball and stopping the pass.

Howell is a piece of that puzzle

🧩

#9 Cashius Howell 6-foot-2, 248 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2026 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First Round prospect as of March 3, 2026

Cashius Howell Wants to get to the Quarterback (2024: 13 games evaluated)

2025 game film evaluated: UTSA, Utah State, Notre Dame, Auburn, Mississippi State, Florida, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina, Samford, Texas, and Miami (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Pass rusher by trade. Disruptive. A little hot and cold. Stands up off the edge. Provides scheme flexibility. Decent bull rush power. Elastic athleticism. Fluid pocket adjustments. Sometimes looks like he’s toying with blockers. He’s like a Jack-in-the-Box who can just spring into the pocket. Dealt with some double teams. Solid in man and zone pass coverage. Struggled getting off run blocks. Inconsistent tackler against the run.

Final words

Send the card in.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.