Bengals rookie Cashius Howell earning high praise as 'real deal

When the Cincinnati Bengals traded for Dexter Lawrence, they lost their first-round pick in this year’s draft, and it might not even matter because of who they ended up with on Day 2.

The Bengals drafted Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the reigning SEC sack leader is earning high praise through the first two weeks.

He’s impressed his teammates and coaches alike in a short period of time and could end up being the rookie who makes the biggest impact this season.

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“He's the real deal,” veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen said. “Everything you've seen on tape; you see him do it at the NFL level. He's gonna be in the league a long time. He's a dog.”

To earn that type of praise from a veteran of Allen’s caliber is noteworthy. Allen is a 10-year NFL veteran and has been one of the most productive defensive linemen in the NFL over the last decade.

The former No. 17 overall pick by the Washington Commanders in 2017 has played in 126 games and recorded 45.5 sacks. If there’s someone who knows what it takes to produce in the NFL, it’s Allen.

Howell’s 11.5 sacks at Texas A&M in 2025 catapulted his draft stock. Some pundits mocked him to be drafted late in the first round. Several teams opted to pass on him, and the Bengals appear to be reaping the benefits of those decisions.

The Bengals are hoping to improve their pass rush significantly this season. Every move they made this offseason suggests it. In addition to Allen and Lawrence, Cincinnati added defensive end Boye Mafe in the early phase of free agency.

After the 2025 season where the team recorded 35 sacks and won just six games, it was clear the Bengals were going to need to beef up their defensive line. The Bengals ranked No. 31 in total defense last season, giving up an average of 380 yards per game.

Howell’s best trait coming out of college was his speed and bend as a pass rusher. The Bengals knew they were getting a player who possessed the physical skillset needed to compete at the highest level, but what they’ve seen as far as his physicality has exceeded their expectations.

“He’s been really physical … he’s really embraced the physicality of playing defensive end,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “That’s a great starting point for a rookie, where he’s not afraid to take on blocks and really strain and make some plays in the run game. He’s got natural pass rush ability, which shows up on a daily basis. He can drive us crazy on offense because he’s really good at it.”

Sometimes it takes a young edge rusher time to learn how to translate his game to the NFL level. Going up against the premiere right and left tackles is no easy feat, and it’s rare for young players to make an impact right away at the defensive end position.

The way Howell plays the position makes Allen a believe in his long-term potential in the NFL.

“Some people are great college rushers, and some people are great rushers,” Allen explained. “Because the game is so different between college and NFL, and the way he rushes with the violence and the intensity and the knowledge, it lets me know that the way he plays is going to translate very well into the NFL, and you're already seeing it.”

Taylor said the next step in Howell's progression is getting him more reps with the starters and he did so on Aug. 6. Howell impressed when he was able to get leverage against left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and push him backwards showing off his power.

The more plays Howell makes – especially against Cincinnati’s starting offensive line – the more comfortable Taylor will feel keeping him in the rotation during practice with the starters.

Howell is looking forward to showing what he can do against another opponent, and he’ll get the chance to do so on Aug. 13 when the Bengals host the Detroit Lions in their first exhibition game.

“I’m definitely eager to be able to showcase my talents,” Howell said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals rookie Cashius Howell earning high praise as 'real deal'

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