Draft month, finally, has arrived.Continuing our series, which began earlier this month and will run until the 2026 NFL Draft begins on April 23, The Detroit News will spotlight one prospect a day who could be a first-round fit for the Detroit Lions, who own the 17th overall pick. Assuming the Lions don't trade out, it'll be their highest selection since running back Jahmyr Gibbs went No. 12 in 2023.Today's focus is on Texas A&M edge defender Cashius Howell.Cashius Howell stats▶ In 2025: 41 pressures, 11½ sacks, 31 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, six pass breakups, one forced fumble▶ 19.9% pass-rush win rate in each of his last two seasons at Texas A&M▶ Led Bowling Green with 9½ sacks in 2023▶ 4.59-second 40-yard dash at NFL CombineCashius Howell career backgroundHowell was a three-star prospect via the 247Sports Composite out of Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri.

He was ranked No. 2,162 nationally and the 30th-ranked prospect in his home state. He joined Bowling Green’s Class of 2021. Howell also lettered in basketball in high school.

Howell redshirted his freshman season at Bowling Green but still appeared in four games, the maximum allowed for a redshirt. He played 43 defensive snaps and made six tackles. He played in all 13 games as a rotational player during his redshirt freshman season and recorded 11 pressures on 96 pass-rush snaps with two sacks.

He made 22 tackles on just 189 total snaps, with 82 snaps coming against the run.During his redshirt sophomore season, Howell emerged as a pass-rushing dynamo. He had a pass-rush win rate of 22.9%, ranking fifth among qualified FBS rushers. His pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 16th among qualified edge defenders (minimum 20% of snaps).

He had 44 pressures and 9½ sacks en route to earning Third-Team All-MAC honors, which prompted his transfer to the SEC.Howell was deemed a four-star prospect by 247Sports in the 2024 transfer window. He was ranked No. 60 overall and No. 8 among edge rushers in the portal. Howell told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle he chose Texas A&M with the hope of following in the footsteps of future Hall of Fame edge rushers Von Miller and Myles Garrett.

"I was obviously pretty ecstatic to know that those are some great, great football players and great, great men that's come out of A&M,” Howell said. “So, the fact that A&M was interested in me and also A&M sent those guys to the league, it gave me hope on what could potentially happen."Howell didn’t start in 2024, stuck behind future draft picks Shemar Stewart (taken 17th overall that next offseason) and Nic Scourton (51st overall). But he still played 485 defensive snaps and contributed 34 pressures and four sacks, again with a high win rate of 19.9% (21st among qualified edge rushers).

He was also solid against the run, adding 28 tackles and dropping his missed tackle rate from 19.4% to 11.9%.Howell was a similar producer in 2025, but with 106 extra snaps and better finishing — which can be the result of many different things, including the player’s skill set or just general luck. He had the exact same win rate (19.9%), leading to a whopping 11½ sacks (tied-seventh in nation). Texas A&M started 11-0 but lost to Texas in the regular-season finale and was swiftly dismissed from the College Football Playoff by Miami, in part because Howell was not a factor; he had four pressures across the two games with no sacks and three tackles.Still, Howell was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC.

He was also a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award (top defender in nation), Chuck Bednarik Award (top defender in nation) and the Lombardi Award (top lineman in nation).Cashius Howell NFL draft analysisHowell is an explosive edge rusher with proven production who carries concerns about how his lack of an ideal frame (6-2½, 253 pounds) and arm length (30¼ inches) will impact his ability to set an edge at the next level. Howell earned a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.11 out of 10 through his workouts at the NFL Combine. He impressed in the 40-yard dash, turning in a time of 4.59 seconds.

Yet, his arms are a full three inches shorter than those of former Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad, a similar player, stylistically, who measured in at 6-3½, 253 pounds in his draft cycle. They’re over four inches shorter than ex-Lions defensive end Cliff Avril’s (34⅝ inches), who has a similar RAS profile. It’s fair to wonder if Howell can overcome his length’s limitations.

As a pass rusher, Howell uses a combination of elite get-off, bend and quick-twitch movements to put offensive tackles in a blender. He has a pretty developed pass-rush bag, which allows him to set up moves and counter blocks. His inside spin is the stuff of nightmares.

When he does get in the backfield, quarterbacks struggle to get away from his blazing speed. His knack for getting his hand on the football produced two forced fumbles and 13 pass breakups in his two seas