There is no shortage of excitement surrounding Cincinnati Bengals rookie defensive end Cashius Howell.
And if defensive coordinator Al Golden’s assessment of his new pass rusher is any indication, the Bengals may have landed a player who can make an impact much sooner than some might expect.
When Cincinnati selected Howell with the 41st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the reaction was largely centered around one obvious trait: production.
Howell recorded 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss during
his final season at Texas A&M, earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and first-team All-America recognition. He finished his college career with 27 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss.
But Golden sees more than just a player who knows how to get to the quarterback.
“Dynamic pass rusher, great production — not average production, great production,” Golden said after the Bengals selected Howell.
That distinction is important. The Bengals didn’t simply draft Howell because he put up impressive numbers at Texas A&M. They believe those numbers are the product of a skill set that can translate to Cincinnati’s defense.
Golden specifically pointed to Howell’s versatility.
He can rush from a traditional edge position. He can line up as an outside linebacker. He can play in different fronts. He has shown that he can drop into coverage. And, perhaps most importantly for a Bengals defense looking to create more pressure, he gives Golden another option when it comes time to attack opposing quarterbacks.
“He can play 4-2 edge, can play outside backer if you go to bigger people,” Golden said. “Showed proficiency with the ability to drop. Can help us on special teams. So, this is a multifaceted athlete and a really twitched-up guy.”
That’s a strong endorsement. And it helps explain why Cincinnati reportedly viewed Howell so highly on its draft board.
The Bengals had to wait until the second round to make their first selection, yet Howell was still sitting there at No. 41. Cincinnati’s decision-makers didn’t appear to view that as a problem. They viewed it as an opportunity.
Assistant general manager Mike Potts called Howell’s ability to win quickly as a pass rusher “really dynamic.” At the same time, the Bengals’ draft team reportedly had Howell as the highest player remaining on its board.
Following a recent practice, Golden continued to heap praise on Howell, noting that his intelligence has really helped the rookie transition to the pro level.
“Hitting on Cashius, I can’t underscore how important that is because he’s come through for us in terms of his intellect, his work ethic, his ability to process, and his learning curve,” Golden told Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.
Golden’s comments reinforce the idea that Cincinnati wasn’t simply drafting for depth.
The Bengals were adding another weapon.
A Different Kind of Edge Rusher
One of the more intriguing aspects of Howell’s fit in Cincinnati is his physical profile.
At roughly 6-foot-2 and 253 pounds, Howell isn’t the prototypical long, towering defensive end. His arms measured just over 30 inches at the combine, something that became a major talking point during the pre-draft process. But the Bengals clearly weren’t overly concerned.
They saw the burst, the bend, and the pass-rush arsenal. And they saw a player who consistently found ways to get home.
Howell’s game is built around his ability to get off the ball and attack. That’s precisely the kind of skill set Golden can move around the formation and utilize in different situations.
That versatility becomes even more interesting when you consider the rest of Cincinnati’s defensive line. The Bengals now have Howell alongside players such as Shemar Stewart, Myles Murphy, Boye Mafe, and Dexter Lawrence II.
That’s a very different-looking group than the one Cincinnati had a year ago. And Howell doesn’t necessarily have to be the centerpiece of it. He can be the chess piece.
Golden specifically compared Howell’s body type to Mafe’s and talked about the variety the two can provide on early downs and in obvious passing situations.
That could be where Howell becomes particularly dangerous.
The Production Is Already There
There’s always going to be a learning curve for a rookie defensive lineman entering the NFL. But Howell isn’t coming to Cincinnati as some developmental project with theoretical upside.
He already has a production track record.
His 11.5 sacks in 2025 weren’t simply the result of playing a few favorable matchups. He became one of the most disruptive defenders in the SEC and earned the conference’s top defensive player award. That matters.
The Bengals have spent years looking for ways to generate more consistent pressure without relying exclusively on one player to win his matchup.
Howell gives them another legitimate pass-rush threat.
And Golden seems to believe he can do considerably more than just rush the passer. That’s what makes the rookie so intriguing.
Golden’s Confidence Should Get Bengals Fans Excited
There is a difference between a coach saying nice things about a rookie and a coach describing exactly how that rookie can help his defense. Golden’s comments fall into the second category.
He’s already talking about Howell’s ability to play different positions, rush from different alignments, drop into coverage, and contribute on special teams.
That’s not the description of a player the Bengals intend to keep in a limited package. It’s the description of a player they believe can become part of the defensive identity.
Howell himself has described his projected role as a hybrid edge rusher — playing defensive end on base downs, occasionally dropping into coverage, and being used in various blitz packages.
That sounds an awful lot like the type of player Golden wants to have at his disposal.
And perhaps that’s the biggest reason to pay attention to the growing buzz around Howell in Cincinnati. The hype isn’t simply coming from draft analysts or fans watching his college tape.
It’s coming from the guy who designed the Bengals’ defense. Al Golden clearly believes Cashius Howell can be a difference-maker.
Now Bengals fans get to find out just how quickly that belief becomes reality.
