From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell.<\/p>\n
#9 CASHIUS HOWELL\/EDGE, TEXAS A&M (RS SENIOR) \u2013 6-2, 248
\nMeasurements<\/p>\n
Player
\nHt\/Wt
\nHand Size
\nArm Length
\nWingspan<\/p>\n
Cashius Howell
\n6-2\/248
\nN\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
40-Yard Dash
\n10-Yard Dash
\nShort Shuttle
\n3-Cone<\/p>\n
N\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
Broad Jump
\nVertical
\nBench Press<\/p>\n
N\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
THE GOOD<\/p>\n
\u2013 Good play strength
\u2013 Uses strong arms to set the edge
\u2013 Can bull rush with strong, extended arms
\u2013 Strong arms swipe offensive linemen\u2019s hands
\u2013 Decent contact balance
\u2013 Takes on double teams well
\u2013 Can split double teams and make tackles
\u2013 Quick get-off
\u2013 Quick jab step
\u2013 Good awareness in zone coverage
\u2013 Gets collisions in zone coverage
\u2013 High motor
\u2013 Secure tackler
\u2013 Forces fumbles<\/p>\n
THE BAD<\/p>\n
\u2013 Loses strength when offensive linemen set to him or run wide zone
\u2013 Can bury head vs run
\u2013 Needs to have full momentum to disrupt run plays
\u2013 Does not consistently win as a pass rusher with speed
\u2013 Can bull rush but struggles to rip through after knocking the lineman back
\u2013 Average speed
\u2013 Loses speed after a quick get-off
\u2013 Lacks consistency in all areas<\/p>\n
STATS<\/p>\n
\u2013 Started 14 games across two seasons at Texas A&M. Transferred from Bowling Green, where he started 11 games across two seasons
\u2013 2025: 31 tackles, 14 TFL, 11.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 5 QB hits, 6 PBUs
\u2013 Career at Bowling Green: 56 tackles, 13 TFL, 11.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 PBUs
\u2013 Played 60 snaps of pass coverage in 2025<\/p>\n
INJURY HISTORY<\/p>\n
\u2013 Missed multiple games in high school due to a shoulder injury<\/p>\n
BACKGROUND<\/p>\n
\u2013 Named a 2025 First Team All-American
\u2013 Won SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025
\u2013 Finalist for the 2025 Lombardi Award
\u2013 2025 First Team All-ASEC
\u2013 At Bowling Green in 2023, he was named Third Team All-MAC
\u2013 Three-star prospect out of Rockhurst High School in Missouri
\u2013 Named First Ream Academic All-State
\u2013 Did not receive a single Power 5 offer
\u2013 Also lettered in basketball
\u2013 Plays with a chip on his shoulder, feeling like he should have been more respected out of high school as a prospect<\/p>\n
TAPE BREAKDOWN<\/p>\n
Cashius Howell is an extremely productive defender with solid ability in all areas. His run defense is the most impressive part of his game, as he fights until the play is over to secure the ball carrier with a good tackle. He fits his gap very well and does not stray away from it, sometimes limiting the ability to make splash plays. He has very strong arms and long-arms the tackle to set the edge.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, Howell can bury his head into the lineman and lose sight of the ball carrier. He also loses strength when teams run outside zone because he cannot get momentum to jam into the lineman. He defends best against gap schemes due to his low pad level and good gap discipline. Howell also handles double teams well, like on this play, where he is aligned outside the tight end.<\/p>\n
As a pass rusher, Howell wins with his strong arms, swiping the hands of offensive tackles and securing the quarterback. When he attacks first, he can get around the edge and force fumbles. When he does not get that initial advantage, he has trouble finishing through blocks to get to the quarterback. He does not consistently win as a pass rusher despite using his hands a lot, which is concerning for a prospect who has been in college for five years.<\/p>\n
On the right side of the line, he whiffs on his initial rush and gets stonewalled.<\/p>\n
Howell also has inconsistent bull rush ability. When his arms are extended, he can move the lineman back. But he has trouble getting into the lineman\u2019s body and ripping through. He struggles to get sacks when bull rushing because his hands are engaged with the lineman. Regarding Howell\u2019s struggles to finish through blocks, he lacks elite contact balance, which limits how often he can win with speed.<\/p>\n
When tackles are in a good position, they can shove him to the ground. That happens on this play, where Howell is on the left side of the line.<\/p>\n
Despite his inconsistency as a pass rusher, Howell does an impressive job in coverage for his size. He will play the traditional outside linebacker role in a 3-4 defense, where he can drop in coverage around 5 times a game. He makes collisions in zone coverage and takes up throwing windows. But he will struggle in man due to his size and lack of speed in space.<\/p>\n
Howell is an extremely hard worker and always plays with a high motor. Although his pass rush isn\u2019t always perfect, he will give 100 percent effort on every play and can cause chaos with that alone. Here, he gets pressure vs. Texas on a play-action pass.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION<\/p>\n
Cashius Howell found success as an older college player but still lacks the consistency to be a true first-rounder. This was the first year he started full-time, and his tape shows that. There are still parts of his game that need to be consistent, which is more concerning because he is an older prospect. Howell showed much ability on tape and can be a productive starter. But he lacks the upside that other prospects have.<\/p>\n