Cashius Howell Scouting Report

Cashius Howell combines explosiveness, athleticism, and natural power to physically dominate as a pass rusher.

Draft Grade: Round 1 - Pro Bowl Caliber

Strengths:

First-Step Explosiveness: Howell explodes off the line of scrimmage at the snap, which gives him an advantage to win both as a pass rusher and a run defender.

Versatility: Howell has shown the ability to line up in multiple alignments, from interior alignments to outside the tackle, throughout his career and be effective. He can also rush the passer from either side of the line. 

High Motor: Howell is a high-motor, high-energy player who appears to have the right temperament to be a tone-setter as a defensive player.

Strength/Power: Howell has the strength as a pass rusher to consistently win with power, and the strength in the run game to set a defined edge and stop ball carriers on an outside track.

Concerns:

Utilizing Counter Moves: Howell often relies heavily on his initial move to win and needs to approach his pass-rush sequence with the thought that there may be an opportunity to utilize his counter moves to win the rep.

Coverage Ability: Howell looks uncomfortable at times when asked to drop into coverage. This could be attributed to a lack of reps. He needs to be coached on keys and technique dropping into coverage against the pass.