Cashius Howell grew up in Kansas City. He went to Rockhurst High School, cheered for the Chiefs, and dreamed of one day playing for them. On Friday night, in the 2026 NFL Draft's second round, that dream was one pick away from turning into his reality. Then it evaporated.
With the 40th overall selection, the Chiefs took Oklahoma edge rusher R. Mason Thomas. One selection later, at No. 41, the Cincinnati Bengals submitted a card with Howell's name on it.
Howell, a pass rusher who played at Texas A&M last season, wasn't going to pretend the moment didn't sting, but he wasn't going to dwell on it either.
"They took an edge rusher before me, so you know, it's all good," Howell told reporters after being selected, per Fox Sports' Joe Danneman. "Like I said, I grew up as a Kansas City Chiefs fan, but at this point, like I said, I'm just thankful to be a Bengal. So we'll see them when we see them. I'm very happy to be a Bengal and wouldn't want to be a Kansas City Chief at this point."
Interestingly, Howell is right about seeing the Chiefs, and he'll do so sooner than later. The Chiefs will visit Paycor Stadium this season, although the official 2026 schedule hasn't been released (and won't be until after the draft).
The Bengals might be glad that Howell is fueling such emotions, especially if it leads to even greater motivation for a player who broke out with 11.5 sacks for the Aggies last season. Howell was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and was named an All-American by season's end.
It will be interesting to follow the careers of Thomas and Howell to see how they progress at the pro level. Both teams needed more explosive talent on the edge, and the proximity of their draft slots plus Howell's hopes to join his hometown team makes it an intriguing subplot to watch when both teams play one another in 2026 and beyond.
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