In the lead-up to the NFL draft, Brent Sobleski from Bleacher Report has highlighted Texas A&M pass rusher Cashius Howell as an ideal pick for the New England Patriots. Howell, who was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year after a standout season with 11.5 sacks, has seen his draft stock affected by concerns over his arm length. However, the Patriots have shown they value explosiveness and tenacity over physical measurements, as evidenced by their previous selection of left tackle Will Campbell. Over his college career, Howell accumulated 27 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss across 56 games. If selected, he could effectively replace K'Lavon Chaisson, who recently signed with the Washington Commanders.