The Buffalo Bills' 2026 NFL Draft plans are taking shape as April arrives, though Bills Mafia is still left wondering just how general manager Brandon Beane will make use of his first-round pick at No. 26 overall.
With needs across the defense and at wide receiver, Buffalo could sit tight and see how the board falls. While trading out is an option, the public perception of the draft class as a whole is a breeding ground for unpredictability. Players who once seemed out of reach for Buffalo could be in play at No. 26, and if Beane holds his ground until he’s on the clock, he could come away with a steal.
That’s one realistic path for the Bills to land Texas A&M pass rusher Cashius Howell, who ESPN’s Matt Bowen suggested would be a perfect fit in the Bills’ defense.
Buffalo Bills’ scheme fit with Cashius Howell strengthens case to stay at No. 26
“The Bills signed veteran edge rusher Bradley Chubb in free agency to play under new coordinator Jim Leonhard, but landing Howell would give them an impact player in sub packages,” Bowen wrote on Wednesday. “With his quick first step and natural bend, Howell can dip under offensive tackles and close on the quarterback.”
As Bowen mentioned, the Bills have addressed the edge of their new 3-4 defense, pairing Chubb with Gregory Rousseau. However, in five seasons, Rousseau has yet to crack double-digit sacks in a single season, and Chubb is about to turn 30 with a concerning injury history. The Bills must leave the 2026 draft with a pass rusher with high upside, and Howell fits the bill.
While Chubb and Rousseau should be the entrenched starters, a dedicated pass rusher like Howell gives Leonhard’s defense useful depth and a working rotation to keep the position fresh. Throw in a healthy Michael Hoecht, and the Bills' pass rush would look its best on paper in a long time. At the very least, that gives Bills Mafia something to look forward to in the 2026 season.
Early on in the draft process, it seemed Howell’s draft position figured to slot in somewhere in the teens. Then he attended the NFL Combine, where his arm length came under scrutiny, and while it didn’t tank his draft stock to push him out of the first round, it could make him available at No. 26.
Howell’s arm length is cause for concern, but as Bills Mafia has heard and read repeatedly since his hiring, Leonhard knows how to get the most out of undersized and even short-armed pass rushers. Howell would be in good hands in Buffalo, focusing in early on his strengths as a fast and bendy pass rusher to spell the veterans, more likely Rousseau, on obvious passing downs. In the meantime, Leonhard and his staff can develop his skillset to grow into a more well-rounded NFL player.
The Bills have options at No. 26 overall, but if Howell is still on the board, it would be a tough scene if Beane opts to go in another direction– especially if it’s a different pass rusher altogether.