First Round, No. 32 overall: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
After he registered a career-low two sacks a year ago, it would be easy to scoff at the idea that the Seahawks should prioritize replacing Boye Mafe’s “production” off the edge in this year’s draft. And yet, in my opinion, that should be the club’s greatest focus. Mafe was the team’s biggest threat as a traditional “speed” rusher and while he didn’t get home very often, his upfield burst forced quarterbacks (and running backs) to alter their plans, where the rest of Seattle’s defense lay in wait.
While I argued earlier that UCF’s Malachi Lawrence was a Mafe Doppelganger, Howell might be an even better replacement.
While sacrificing an inch and a half and eight pounds to the 6-foot-4, 261-pound Mafe, Howell (6-2 ½ and 253 pounds) is even quicker off the snap and more flexible around the corner. He is the SEC’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, leading the conference’s draft-eligible defenders with 11.5 sacks this past season and ranking second with 14 tackles for loss for a Texas A&M squad that made the College Football Playoff for the first time.
Howell began his college career at Bowling Green, where he led the Falcons with 9.5 sacks in 2023.
It is the 2024 season in between that I think makes Howell an especially intriguing fit for the Seahawks, however. After his breakout 2023 campaign, Howell entered the transfer portal and signed with Texas A&M. The Aggies already boasted a talented defensive line that featured three players selected among the first two rounds of last spring’s draft and therefore Howell was relegated to more off-ball linebacker duties.
In this role, Howell showed impressive agility, balance and instincts. He recorded 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, as well as a career-high seven pass deflections, including an interception. Despite primarily attacking quarterbacks as a rusher, Howell again showed uncommon awareness of passing lanes this past season, as well, recording six more passes defensed. Howell lacks elite length and power against the run, but his versatility and instincts are first round caliber.
His ability to affect quarterbacks as a rusher and dropping back into coverage would provide Macdonald with a highly versatile edge defender. I think he’d be capable of contending for the team lead in sacks as a rookie, while also confusing opposing quarterbacks with the sudden, surprising ability to effectively cover, as well.