Bengals complete 2026 draft class by signing DE Cashius Howell

The Cincinnati Bengals signed second-round defensive end Cashius Howell on Tuesday, completing the team’s 2026 draft class after all seven selections reached agreement with the organization. The signing closes the final step of the Bengals’ rookie contracting process and gives their offseason staff one more player to build chemistry with during program work.

Howell, a pass-rush oriented defender listed at 6-3 and 255 pounds, arrives from Texas A&M where he spent his final two collegiate seasons in the Aggies’ defensive front. The Bengals selected Howell as part of their draft haul, and his contract makes him the last member of the class to ink a rookie deal.

According to the Bengals’ release, Howell totaled 27 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss over his college career, with 15 pass breakups, one interception, and three forced fumbles. He produced his strongest statistical season in 2025, recording a career-high 11.5 sacks while earning Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and first-team Associated Press All-America honors.

Howell’s signing also reflects the Bengals’ broader roster-building approach this spring. The team’s draft strategy included acquiring defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants with a deal that sent its first-round selection away, and Howell became Cincinnati’s first pick of the 2026 draft after that trade. By wrapping up all rookie agreements, the Bengals can now shift focus to the veteran rotation and the development plan for their new edge defender.

From a football standpoint, Howell’s profile matters because the Bengals have often relied on consistent edge pressure to tilt plays in the pass rush and create second-level opportunities. A young defensive end coming off an award-caliber season gives Cincinnati additional flexibility in how it deploys its front, whether that means increasing the rotation at outside linebacker/edge roles or expanding the package of pass-rush looks around the defensive line.

For Texas A&M, the NFL transition continues with Howell becoming another high-end talent to leave the program following a year that brought major conference and national recognition. For Cincinnati, the timing of this signing means Howell will join the rest of the drafted class in the early stretch of offseason football, where coaching staffs typically use installation and scheme familiarization to establish roles.

What to watch next is how Cincinnati positions Howell within its defensive depth chart during training camp and how quickly he can translate his college sack production into NFL timing against professional offensive tackles. Even with a completed draft class, the real test is adaptation, particularly in how well a young pass rusher handles edge-setting discipline and leverage assignments against varied run and pass concepts.

Ultimately, Tuesday’s agreement is less about headlines and more about completion. With all 2026 selections under contract, the Bengals can treat the offseason as a single, continuous development window rather than a series of delayed onboarding steps.