Scouting Future Saints: Texas A&M Aggies edge rusher Cashius Howell

Edge rusher Chase Young had the best production of his six-year career in 2025 for the New Orleans Saints with 10 sacks, 30 pressures, and 11 tackles for loss. On the other side, 15-year veteran Cameron Jordan rebounded to again look like a Hall of Famer with 10.5 sacks and 24 pressures. However, Jordan will turn 37 this offseason and remains a free agent. Therefore, most think that the Saints will add another pass rusher early in the 2026 NFL Draft. One of the names to perhaps watch is Cashius Howell, the Texas A&M Aggies edge rusher.

Even if Jordan returns to the team, the Saints would be wise to add a young pass rusher to eventually replace him. Carl Granderson can be productive as a rotational player, but not a full-time starter. If New Orleans passes on an edge rusher in the first round, then Howell could be one of the pass rushers available to them on the second day.

Cashius Howell bio

• Position: Edge rusher
• College: Texas A&M Aggies
• Height: 6-feet, 2 inches
• Weight: 253 pounds
• 40-yard dash: 4.59 seconds
• 10-yard split: 1.58 seconds
• Vertical jump: 32.5"
• Broad jump: 9'7"

Out of Rockhurst High School in Missouri, Howell first landed with the Bowling Green Falcons, where he'd redshirt in 2021 after appearing in four games. He would see some limited playing time in 2022, recording 2 sacks and 22 tackles. In 2023, Howell led the Mid-American Conference with 9.5 sacks and had 10.5 stops for loss in earning 3rd Team All-MAC recognition. After that season, he'd enter the transfer portal and would wind up in the SEC.

Landing with the Texas A&M Aggies in 2024, Howell recorded 4 sacks and 8 tackles for loss while recording an interception and breaking up 7 passes. Howell emerged as a force for the CFP playoff-bound Aggies in 2025, racking up 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss to lead the team in both categories. He also broke up 6 throws on his way to SEC Defensive Player of the Year and 1st Team All-American honors.

Strengths

• Excellent bend and burst around the end
• Explosive inside move
• Impressive variety of pass rush moves
• Extremely effective as a stand-up rusher
• Decent recognition of running plays

Weaknesses

• Must add more power to pass rush
• Rarely able to set edge adequately against the run
• Has trouble disengaging from blockers
• Gets pushed off the point of attack too easily

Cashius Howell 2026 draft outlook

Howell is one of the better pure speed rushers in this year's draft. However, his struggles against the run and need to add power and strength to his game will likely make him a specialized rotation player -- at least early in his career. It's those shortcomings that probably keeps him out of the first round, but his pass rushing upside likely has him coming off the board in Day 2.

For 15 years with Cameron Jordan, the Saints had a top-level all-around defender that not only caused havoc against quarterbacks but was also a standout against the run. Ideally, New Orleans would like to replace Jordan with a similar player. If the Saints don't draft an edge rusher in the first round, then a pass rusher like Cashius Howell on the second day could still be an intriguing addition to their pass rush with the hopes of developing him into an every down player.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Texas A&M Aggies edge Cashius Howell scouting report