football

5 Day 2 picks that could already be heavy contributors

Yahoo Sports

Day 2 of the NFL draft still had some talented prospects, and five of them could be immediate contributors in year 1.

The 2026 NFL draft still had some talented prospects available in Day 2. Some teams got major steals in that part of the draft. However, some prospects could see a lot of snaps and/or targets from their team already, whether that’s due to positional need or talent.

Cashius Howell, Cincinnati Bengals, pick 41 Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Cashius Howell (9) rushes the line past Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Markel Bell (70) during the game between the Aggies and the Hurricanes at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Howell was a stat-sheet stuffer with the Texas A&M Aggies this past season. The 6-foot-2, 248-pound edge rusher had 31 tackles, 14.

0 tackles for loss, and 11. 5 sacks, earning an All-American bid in 2025. More: 2026 NFL Draft star Jermod McCoy could face career-threatening surgery He might need to be that for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Their front seven is pretty barren, and even with signing Boye Mafe and trading for Dexter Lawrence, they still needed more. Howell has the potential to be that missing piece. He’s a bendy edge rusher with great bend and elusiveness, but he’s probably too undersized to contribute to the run much.

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