A year ago the SEC dominated the NFL Draft in unprecedented fashion. A total of 79 selections came from the conference, with 15 of those landing on opening night.
Depending on whose mock board you’re perusing, Texas A&M could again be well represented on both sides of the ball.
Edge rusher Cashius Howell appears poised to cash in next month. And don’t be surprised if his hometown Kansas City Chiefs scoop him up at No. 29.
Aggies great Steve McKinney, who battled defensive juggernauts throughout his career on every level and finished with 25 sacks at Texas A&M before earning a place in the College Football Hall of Fame, offered nothing but praise when discussing Howell with The Sporting News.
“Cashius showed flashes of his speed and pass rush ability in his first year at A&M, but he really took a huge leap last fall,” McKinney said. “His burst off the ball and his bend are elite. He was also very effective in coverage, not to mention the level of intensity he plays with.”
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When asked who Howell reminds him of, McKinney didn’t hesitate. “Von Miller.”
The folks who assemble the annual draft guide at Ourlads, which has become an annual rite of spring for NFL evaluators and draft followers, echoed that sentiment through longtime scout Jon Cooper.
“Howell is a player we really like because of his motor and ability to produce at a high level,” Cooper said. “A huge concern however is his measurements and how they project against NFL offensive tackles. He has short arms and a zero wingspan differential which is even more concerning to NFL analytics people.
“That said when watching him play you don’t see a player lacking length. What you see is an explosive first step and a powerful punch to stun blocks. He can slip blocks on the move with quick hands. Excellent chase player coming off the backside and he doesn’t often miss tackles. He’s an advanced technician as a pass rusher with a variety of ways to get to the quarterback.
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“The proof is in the pressure rate and number of sacks. He’s also flashed decent cover skill dropping in the flat. We like him as a 3-4 outside linebacker but he should at least find a home in a rotation. Despite lack of length we still feel he could be in the first round. Some teams will knock him down because of that so we’ll see. However he’s too productive to ignore.”
There’s always value on the board late in the first round. Ray Lewis went 26th. Dan Marino went 27th. Darrell Green went 28th.
If Howell lands in that same neighborhood next month, he wouldn’t be the first future difference-maker to hear his name called there.
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