With the No. 41 pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell on Thursday night in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

One of the most dominant forces in college football last season is headed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he will have the opportunity to strike fear into opposing quarterbacks in the AFC North. Howell began his collegiate career at Bowling Green in 2022-2023, where he earned All-MAC recognition. During his sophomore campaign, Howell led the league with 9.5 sacks, which was tied for 16th nationally.

After entering the transfer portal at the end of 2023, he landed in Bryan-College Station with Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, where he brought his game to the next level.

At 6-foot-2 and 253 pounds, Cashius Howell brings electric speed and outstanding power off the edge to the Bengals' defensive unit. Tied for seventh in FBS and leading the SEC with 11.5 sacks in 2025, Howell's presence on Texas A&M's defense gave offensive coordinators nightmares. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year started all 13 games for the Aggies, recording 31 tackles, six pass breakups and a forced fumble.

We have drafted DE Cashius Howell with the no. 41 overall pick. pic.twitter.com/arqueeIlVi

According to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, Howell recorded a production score of 74 (12th among DE/EDGE) and 71 athleticism score (17th among DE/EDGE) for a total of 76 (9th among DE/EDGE). His 4.59 40-yard dash and 1.58-second time in the 10-yard split ranked fifth and first in this year's defensive end class.

Howell's physicality, demeanor and flashy speed could make him the steal of the draft if he continues to develop in Cincinnati.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Bengals select Texas A&M DE in the second round of 2026 NFL Draft