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Bengals Select DE Cashius Howell at 41 After Trade

4/25/2026

Summary

Bengals Draft Howell

Cincinnati Bengals drafted defensive end Cashius Howell with the No. 41 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Howell, a Texas A&M transfer, posted 11.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss and finished with 26.5 sacks.
Analysts gave the pick a B+ to A- grade, noting his step, after Cincinnati traded the No. 10 slot to the New York Giants for Dexter Lawrence and signing Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, Kyle Dugger and Jonathan Allen.

Summary

Bengals Trade

The Bengals entered the 2026 draft without a first-round pick after trading No. 10 overall pick to New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
Spending this year topped $300 million, leaving the team $1 million under the $301 million cap.
Myles Murphy’s $14 million fifth-year option must be decided by next week.
Selecting edge rusher Howell, the third high-draft-asset edge-rush pick in four years, adds him to a defensive-end group with Boye Mafe, Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart.

History

Historical Context

In 1983 the New York Giants selected defensive end Leonard Marshall with the 37th overall pick, a move Al Davis called the draft’s “steal.” Marshall posted 15.5 sacks in 1985, helping the Giants to a 10-win season and a playoff berth. The Bengals’ 2026 trade of a high pick for proven talent echoes that historic front-seven rebuild model.

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Bengals Draft Howell

Cincinnati Bengals drafted defensive end Cashius Howell with the No. 41 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Howell, a Texas A&M transfer, posted 11.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss and finished with 26.5 sacks.
Analysts gave the pick a B+ to A- grade, noting his step, after Cincinnati traded the No. 10 slot to the New York Giants for Dexter Lawrence and signing Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, Kyle Dugger and Jonathan Allen.

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