In an NFL Draft that is considered by most analysts to be devoid of depth at least in terms of no-doubt-it future All-Pro prospects, that means there are a number of polarizing players dotting team boards across the league.
If you peruse the million mock drafts that are available, you can recognize the disparity in how some players in this class are viewed — a mid first-round pick in one man’s eyes is a late second-rounder in another’s. In fact, as these mocks get updated to version 2 or 3 or 4, some players slide up and down at a surprising intervals.
You can find them at just about every position, including an area of need that is prevalent for the Buffalo Bills: Edge rusher. And perhaps no player is creating more of a stir than Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, a player who pops up a few times as a first-round mock target for Buffalo.
On the field, there is no question that Howell can become a difference-making pass rusher in the NFL because as they say, the tape doesn’t lie. After transferring from Bowling Green, Howell played two years in the SEC for the Aggies and he totaled 15.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss while also batting down 13 passes, making an interception and forcing two fumbles.
In 2025 he was a first-team All-American, was the SEC defensive player of the year, and was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award which is given to the nation’s top defensive player.
He exhibits blinding speed around the edge thanks to a dynamic first step which helped him measure 1.58 seconds in the 10-yard split at the scouting combine, a key evaluation drill for the position that is much more important than the 40-yard dash. That tied for fastest at the position with Ohio State’s Arvell Reese who many believe will be a Top 5 pick, perhaps as high as No. 2 to the Jets.
Beyond his quickness and agility, Howell played with surprising power despite weighing just 249 pounds, so he has a speed-strength combination every team would covet, especially a team like the Bills who are moving to an odd-man front and need stand-up edge rusher/outside linebackers.
So, what’s the problem? Well, there’s the matter of Howell’s 30 ¼-inch arms, unusually short for the position. For perspective, 96% of all edge rushers in combine history measured in with longer arms according to NFLDraftBuzz, and very few of those short-armed edge rushers have been able to produce consistently in the NFL.
That’s because in the NFL, offensive tackles are bigger and longer, men who will have anywhere from 3 to 5 inches of an arm length advantage on Howell, not to mention 50 to 70 pounds of weight, so it’s going to be tough for him if they can get their hands on him and control his rush. The question becomes can Howell avoid getting locked up due to his explosive speed and bend?
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said at the combine, “(Teams) don’t draft guys with 30-inch arms in the first round, right? They don’t typically even draft that guy in the second round” though he did say Howell could be an exception.
So much so that in his most recent mock, Jeremiah had Howell going to the Bills, saying, “The level of concern about Howell’s lack of length will vary from team to team, but his first-step quickness is unquestioned after he posted the fastest 10-yard split of any player from the defensive line group at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine. New Bills DC Jim Leonhard comes from Denver where the Broncos won off the edge with Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, who both ranked among the top five at their position last season in average get-off, per Next Gen Stats.”
Bonitto could be the case study for Leonhard and the Bills if they want to take Howell. Bonitto’s arms measured just 32 ½ inches which ranked in the 16th percentile in his combine year of 2022, yet Denver picked him in the second round. That worked out well as he has 35.5 sacks in his last three seasons.
When he was asked about his arm length at the combine, Howell feigned concern, saying, “That’s just the cards I was dealt. I’m going to do everything in my power to perfect my technique and craft in whatever way possible to make sure my game translates to the next level.”
His message to whichever teams picks him: “They’re getting a guy who’s going to come to work every day and be the same guy every day, bringing the same motor, the same energy and the same effort. I hang my hat on treating every drill, every play, every practice as if it’s my last. I put forth my full effort.”
What some draft analysts had to say about Howell
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: “We can all agree that the Bills must upgrade their defense in the draft. But the way in which they’ll do that is up for debate. One option would be to add an uber-athletic and competitive edge rusher, such as Howell, who might lack ideal size but can scream off the edge with bad intentions. Howell would be an immediate subpackage weapon while he pushes for an every-down role.”
Chris Trapasso: “As a pass rusher, Howell shows an advanced and expanding move repertoire. His hand usage stands out, consistently flashing swipe, arm-over, and spin moves, and he routinely works half a man with excellent timing and leverage. He can soften the outside shoulder of tackles, collapse the outer edge of the pocket, and dynamically counter inside. His hands are violent and pop on contact, and while his speed-to-power conversion is solid, adding functional strength would allow him to finish reps with more authority at the NFL level.”
Todd McShay, The Ringer: “I love Cashius Howell. Quote that. Retweet that. I am in love with Cashius Howell. I’m not saying he’s Von Miller, but I watched the Von Miller tape from Texas A&M, and I got little tiny vibes. If the floor for Cashius Howell is Nick Herbig (of the Steelers), you’re not pumped that you spent a first-round draft pick on him, but it’s not a horrible floor. I think throw out the floor. I don’t understand why people aren’t talking about him like maybe the third-best edge in this class.”
— Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 37 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Why Cashius Howell is dividing NFL draft boards
Reporting by Sal Maiorana, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
