When you're missing a first-round pick, digging in the clearance bin to find first-round traits is the best thing that you can do in the back half of the second round. That's what the Jacksonville Jaguars might attempt to do, and a value option in that range could be Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell.
Howell's 11.5 sacks in the heart of the SEC had him on a first-round trajectory until February's combine, where an outlier measurement will almost certainly force him to Day 2.
The Jaguars need help at EDGE behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Coming from Mike Elko's four-man front, could Howell be the answer?
Cashius Howell NFL Draft Profile and Combine Measurements
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 253 pounds
Arm Length: 30.3"
Hand Span: 9.3"
40-Yard Dash: 4.59 seconds
10-Yard Split: 1.58 seconds
Vertical Jump: 32.5"
Broad Jump: 9'7"
3-Cone Drill: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Cashius Howell's combine was a roller coaster, but the damage was done that Wednesday.
Before even attempting a drill, Howell's 30.3" arms became the shortest for a pure EDGE rusher since 1999. Arm length is a major measurement for these players, who need to get their hands inside and establish distance to burrow toward the quarterback.
That's not really Howell's game, which is why he'll still go on Day 2. The athleticism he provides from an undersized 6-foot-3 frame was shown off with a blazing 1.58-second 10-yard split.
Howell is a speed rusher who will struggle to play on early downs in the NFL. That was also a projection for Nik Bonitto before he became the best of this archetype in the league — but Bonitto's 32.5" arms are significantly less of an outlier.
Cashius Howell NFL Draft Tape Evaluation: Strengths, and Weaknesses
Strengths:Â Lightning-quick first step, identity with two great pass rush moves, and monster college production
Weaknesses:Â Length at the point of attack to set the edge and ability to shed blocks against the run
The EDGE rusher position used to be a mammoth 6-foot force of nature with long arms and a powerful punch. In the modern NFL, you can beat offensive tackles with speed, savviness, and a sense of self. Cashius Howell did that plenty in college.
He turned an 11.5-sack season in 2023 with Bowling Green into a spot with the Texas A&M Aggies, and he was wildly productive on a per-snap basis. Remember, A&M had two elite EDGE players (Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton) in the fold in 2024, and Howell still produced 4.0 sacks in limited opportunities.
Howell's electric first step will get him around the outside of most lumbering offensive tackles -- especially if they aren't particularly long themselves. His excellent changeup to that is a nasty spin move that produced highlight sacks.
Of course, his outlier of an arm measurement is hard to ignore on tape when we know about it, too. He's not particularly effective on early downs or disengaging at the point of attack. Longer, better tackles -- like Markel Bell and Francis Mauigoa at Miami (FL) -- had the ability to stifle his rush. He didn't have a sack or tackle for loss in the Aggies' home playoff loss.
Cashius Howell's Fit with the Jacksonville Jaguars
While Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker pack plenty of power into frames that made them top-10 picks, Cashius Howell could be a solid fit for a Jaguars team that, if Liam Coen has it his way, will have leads as they did in 2025.
Unlike Rueben Bain Jr., who also had similar length issues at the combine, getting into the chests of defenders just isn't really Howell's game. He's looking to beat blockers off the edge or spin back around their inside shoulder when they're expecting that. In terms of just rushing the passer, his skill will translate. It's just a matter of how many downs he plays.
Hines-Allen and Walker are do-it-all forces, so could Anthony Campanile want a designated rusher to deploy for third-and-longs? Potentially. Howell is one of the best overall guys in the draft at doing just that. His experience in Texas A&M's four-man front, like Jacksonville's, doesn't hurt, either.
Overall, arm length is trending down over the past few NFL Drafts. It was a major story with offensive tackles last year, and EDGE rushers have fought these issues. If that trend continues and length becomes less vital in the modern NFL, Howell could look like a steal in the third round.
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