Bengals say Cashius Howell’s arsenal was “second-to-none in this draft class”

Bengals defensive end Cashius Howell (55) runs through a drill during a rookie mini camp workout at the Bengals practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, May 8, 2026. | Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals further bolstered their pass rush by adding Cashius Howell, a talented defensive end out of Texas A&M.

And on Tuesday, the team signed him to a rookie contract, bringing all seven rookies under contract.

During a recent OTA practice, Dan Hoard quoted Bengals assistant GM Mike Potts as saying this about Howell:

His arsenal of rush tools and the moves that he has - I don't wanna speak for anybody else - but I thought it was second-to-none in this draft class."

Howell is an exciting player for sure. He's the kind of guy who can contribute right away, especially with a beefed-up defensive line taking up space in the middle.

We talked about the rookie class in our NFL Draft recap, which you can watch below if you missed it originally:

2. DE Cashius Howell agreed to a contract today, meaning all seven draft picks are signed.
I think the quick wins he can give us as a rusher is really dynamic," said assistant GM Mike Potts. His arsenal of rush tools and the moves that he has - I don't wanna speak for anybody... pic.twitter.com/AhrXWkLsKF

- Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) June 9, 2026

Cincy Jungle comes loaded with the best Cincinnati Bengals links, news, and analysis. Find us on TwitterandFacebook. And check out the #1 Bengals Podcast on YouTube,iTunes, Spotify, or on the Bleav channel. Who DEY!