Todd McShay predicts Patriots pick promising pass-rusher in mock draft

Will Texas A&M standout Cashius Howell slide in the 2026 NFL Draft for the New England Patriots to select with the No. 31 overall pick? According to The Ringer’s Todd McShay, Howell ends up with the Patriots at No.

31 overall. ”Howell’s short arms (30 1/4 inches) are a major red flag,” McShay said. “NFL teams tend to avoid outliers, and the league hasn’t seen a double-digit sack producer in 20 years with sub-31-inch arms.

That said, if Howell had a more prototypical build, we’d be talking about him as a top-10 pick—he’s that impactful. ” Howell recorded 11. 5 sacks in 2025 for Texas A&M.

While his wingspan is short, the consensus first-team All-American was active in generating pass deflections. Howell recorded six passes defended last season. He also registered 14 tackles for loss.