As fun as it would’ve been to see the Bears make a major move in the pass-rush department at the trade deadline, their instinct to take a seven-round-pick flyer on former No. 32 overall pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
was the wise thing to do. Chicago is (hopefully) at the beginning of its ascent into a contender, and mortgaging significant assets on any one player isn’t the play now.
The best NFL teams build through the draft and hit on premium positions that way rather than paying big money or trading for them (or both). And a few recent mock drafts suggest the Bears will waste no time addressing their defensive edge next April. Though it’s hard to know where exactly Chicago will finish in the draft order—they currently sit at No. 18—the prospect focus makes plenty of sense.
In his post-trade-deadline mock, PFF’s Trevor Sikkema tentatively has the Bears selecting Texas A&M’s Cassius Howell, whose dominant season for the Aggies includes an SEC-leading 9.5 sacks.
“Howell has been one of the best pass rushers in the country this season,” Sikkema writes. “Though his arm length is reported to come in well short of NFL standards, that hasn’t stopped him from producing. He owns an 89.4 PFF pass-rush grade against true pass sets and a 24.7% pass-rush win rate, one of the highest marks in the FBS. His explosiveness and bend make him a coveted pass rusher.”
At 6-2 and about 250 pounds, Howell doesn’t strike the figure of a Dennis Allen-type defensive end. He’s more of an outside linebacker known for his pass-rush ability rather than his run defense, which might affect how high he climbs in the draft. A few scouts also suggested his arms could measure in under 31 inches at the NFL Combine. And in the case of this mock draft, Clemson’s T.J. Parker, an edge who checks more of the measurement boxes at 6-3, 260 pounds, goes with the pick right before Howell.
That said, Howell’s arm length and size don’t matter as much when tackles literally can’t get their hands on him in pass protection.
Call Bill Murray and Co., because this guy’s ghost move is supernatural.
Plus, if his explosiveness tests out anything like what it appears on film, people will talk less about his size and length and more about how his elite movement skills and technique help him overcome those less-than-stellar traits.
Sometimes, the actual football matters more than the tape. For example, what’s Howell’s Aggie teammate Shemar Stewart (four tackles, zero sacks) doing in the NFL with all that insane Combine testing he put up last year?
Do you think the Patriots regret drafting Will Campbell, their T. rex-armed left tackle who’s allowed just five sacks and three QB hits this season, at No. 4 overall?
Sometimes, good players are just good players, and you find a place for them.
Though it’s hard to see the fit for Howell with the Bears at the moment, it’s certainly clear that Chicago could use the services of a player like that.
Regardless, the Bears have to do something in next year’s draft to meaningfully address their pass rush alongside Sweat and a (hopefully) healthy Shemar Turner. Their championship aspirations could well depend on it.
