Getty
The Chargers are predicted to land Cashius Howell in a recent mock draft
Khalil Mack is returning for his 13th season in the NFL and his 5th with the Los Angeles Chargers after mulling retirement for the second straight offseason.
Retaining a player of his caliber is good for any team, but the EDGE rusher is 35 years old and is not getting any younger.
The Bolts have the opportunity to fill a replacement for Mack with the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with the opportunity to learn from Khalil Mack.
Chargers Predicted to Add SEC DPOY
GettyThe Chargers can bolster the defensive line in the NFL Draft
Los Angeles brought back Khalil Mack, but lost one of their better EDGE rushers of the 2025 season in Odafe Oweh, who went to sign with the Washington Commanders.
Oweh logged 7.5 sacks in 12 regular season games with the Chargers and 3 sacks in the AFC wildcard loss to the New England Patriots.
ESPN’s Matt Miller released his latest mock draft and has the Bolts addressing their defensive end woes, predicting the team to select Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell with the 22nd overall pick.
“The loss of Odafe Oweh in free agency opens the door for a speed rusher in Round 1. Howell led the SEC with 11.5 sacks and added 40 pressures. The 6-foot-3 edge doesn’t have ideal NFL length with 30¼-inch arms but is a blur off the line of scrimmage, and he consistently wins with burst and a low center of gravity. Howell can learn from Khalil Mack for a season while working in sub-package roles.”
Howell, who won the 2025 SEC Defensive Player of the Year award, has recorded 27 sacks in his collegiate career. The pass rusher also logged 127 tackles (35.5 for a loss) during his time in the NCAA.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein mentioned that the pass rusher needs better handwork when entering the league, and what better teacher than Khalil Mack?
Chargers EDGE rusher Tuli Tuipulotu revealed that Mack helped him learn a lot in his rookie season.
“I’d say I learned a lot from Khalil about being a leader and a man,” Tuipulotu said, via the Chargers. “When the season was going down, Khalil did a good job of keeping people together.”
Cashius Howell Pro Comparison
GettyThe Chargers are predicted to draft Cashius Howell
While Lance Zierlein critiqued part of Cashius Howell’s game, he also gave the EDGE rusher major props, comparing him to one of the better players at his position.
The analyst called Houston Texans defensive star Will Anderson Jr. the Aggies pro player comparison.
“[Howell is a] bendy edge rusher with standout sack totals. Burst and elusiveness are on Howell’s rush menu and he pairs it with a refreshing inside spin counter,” Zierlein wrote. “Howell might not be a three-down player right away, but his ability to create pressure sets him up for a role as a designated rusher, at minimum.”
If the Los Angeles Chargers were to select Cashius Howell, he would be paired up with a rotational team of Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack, and become one of the EDGE rushing groups in the league.
Jason Garcia Jason Garcia is a sports contributor for Heavy Sports who joined the team in 2025, covering the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. More about Jason Garcia
More Heavy on Chargers
Loading more stories