April 3, 2026, 4:20 p.m. ET

In just three short weeks, all the mock drafting will come to an end and we’ll have an actual NFL draft to talk about. For now, we still have plenty of potential picks to talk about, including the pick from the first mock draft of the season from NFL.com’s Nick Shook.

In this case, the Detroit Lions add some help on the defensive line alongside Aidan Hutchinson by selecting Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell.

If there’s any general manager in the NFL who has demonstrated a willingness to ignore pre-draft rankings and stick with his guys, it’s the Lions’ Brad Holmes. He flouts concerns regarding Howell’s arm length (30 1/4 inches) and chooses a dynamic rusher who is also highly capable of making a difference against the run, giving the Lions the running mate they’ve needed for Aidan Hutchinson. – Nick Shook, NFL.com

So far this offseason, the Lions have added former New Orleans Saints first-round pick Payton Turner and former Carolina Panthers EDGE DJ Wonnum. Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had 11 sacks last season, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFL free agency.

Howell was a first-team All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, recording 11.5 sacks and 31 tackles with 14 tackles for a loss, helping lead the Aggies to the College Football Playoff.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.

NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein compares Howell to Will McDonald IV, the New York Jets‘ first-round pick in 2023, who has totaled 18.5 sacks in the last two seasons.

Howell opened eyes at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.59 40-yard dash, including a 1.58 10-yard split. He brings very good bend and flexibility to the table and plenty of speed to get to the quarterback.

Howell’s arm length of 30.75 inches could worry some teams, at least in the early stages on the draft, but Howell will likely hear his name in the back half of the first round. With the Lions, he could start off as a pass-rush specialist and rotate with Wonnum and Turner, eventually developing into a full-blown edge defender.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Billy Riccette on X, @Billy_Riccette