Cincinnati lands big-time edge rusher in Round 2 of Bengals.com mock draft

Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Cashius Howell (9) rushes the line during the game between the Aggies and the Hurricanes at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Bengals are scheduled to be on the clock in Round 1 after the Dexter Lawrence trade, but with an early selection in Round 2, there could easily be a first-round prospect available at pick No. 41.

Geoff Hobson went with edge rusher Cashius Howell out of Texas A&M at 41 in the final Bengals.com media mock draft. Hobson had this to say about the selection,

Now, you can debate if Howell’s the guy. He’s got a Reuben Bain problem when it comes to short arms, but his hellacious spin move and speed around the corner (a torrid 1.58 seconds in the first ten yards of the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine) make him difficult to block.

Howell is currently ranked 35th on my big board. Getting some more pass rush juice at that spot should be firmly in the conversation with linebacker and corner. Especially if a player like Howell falls.

Howell is a 6-foot-2, 253-pound menace coming off the edge. He had a 28.8% win rate on true pass sets in 2025, with 11.5 sacks, and looked comfortable when asked to drop into coverage.

How would you feel if the Bengals take Howell tomorrow?