​CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 13: Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cashius Howell (55) recovers a Lions fumble during the game between the Detroit Lions and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images There is no shortage of excitement surrounding Cincinnati Bengals rookie defensive end Cashius Howell.And if defensive coordinator Al Golden’s assessment of his new pass rusher is any indication, the Bengals may have landed a player who can make an impact much sooner than some might expect.When Cincinnati selected Howell with the 41st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the reaction was largely centered around one obvious trait: production.Howell recorded 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss during his final season at Texas A&M, earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and first-team All-America recognition. He finished his college career with 27 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss.But Golden sees more than just a player who knows how to get to the quarterback.“Dynamic pass rusher, great production — not average production, great production,” Golden said after the Bengals selected Howell.That distinction is important. The Bengals didn’t simply draft Howell because he put up impressive numbers at Texas A&M. They believe those numbers are the product of a skill set that can translate to Cincinnati’s defense.Golden specifically pointed to Howell’s versatility.He can rush from a traditional edge position. He can line up as an outside linebacker. He can play in different fronts. He has shown that he can drop into coverage. And, perhaps most importantly for a Bengals defense looking to create more pressure, he gives Golden another option when it comes time to attack opposing quarterbacks.“He can play 4-2 edge, can play outside backer if you go to bigger people,” Golden said. “Showed proficiency with the ability to drop. Can help us on special teams. So, this is a multifaceted athlete and a really twitched-up guy.”That’s a strong endorsement. And it helps explain why Cincinnati reportedly viewed Howell so highly on its draft board.The Bengals had to wait until the second round to make their first selection, yet Howell was still sitting there at No. 41. Cincinnati’s decision-makers didn’t appear to view that as a problem. They viewed it as an opportunity.Assistant general manager Mike Potts called Howell’s ability to win quickly as a pass rusher “really dynamic.” At the same time, the Bengals’ draft team reportedly had Howell as the highest player remaining on its board.Following a recent practice, Golden continued to heap praise on Howell, noting that his intelligence has really helped the rookie transition to the pro level.“Hitting on Cashius, I can’t underscore how important that is because he’s come through for us in terms of his intellect, his work ethic, his ability to process, and