The New England Patriots were aggressive during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, trading up three spots with the Buffalo Bills to secure Utah left tackle Caleb Lomu. The team is now on to Day 2 of the draft, and the top need to fill is edge defender.
The Patriots' top two offseason needs revolved around sacks. They needed to prevent them and protect their franchise quarterback, Drake Maye. They've already started that in this draft with Lomu. Next up is to draft sack-producing players on defense, especially on the edge.
Edge is comprised of defensive ends at times and also players who play standing up on the end as pass rushers. It's the latter that fits Mike Vrabel's defense best. That's the position the Patriots should target in the second round of the draft, and Cashius Howell of Texas A&M would be a great fit via another potential trade up the board.
Why this sack machine could force the Patriots to move up the board again
The 6-foot-2, 253-pound Howell would be a stellar addition to the Patriots' defense. He fits Vrabel's profile size-wise, and he makes impact plays.
In 2025, he had 31 total stops with 14 tackles for loss. He also had another great stat that's also a play-stopper. He had six passes defended to go along with a forced fumble. Yet, it's in a top impactful area that the Patriots need the most help on defense — sack production. That's where Howell excels.
Howell had an impressive 11.5 sacks for the Aggies in 2025. In the process, he earned the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year Award, first-team SEC, and first-team AP All-American.
What the Patriots' defense needs most in 2026 is sack-producers. There are few, if any, better in the 2026 NFL Draft than Howell in that area.
The Patriots' next pick is No. 63 in the second round, and it's questionable whether Howell will last that long. He was the No. 29 overall player on FanSided's big board, and projects as one of the top defensive prospects available to start Day 2.
The Patriots may need to trade up again and send out a couple of later 2026 and/or 2027 picks to seal a deal and make a major move up the board. If Howell falls within their range, they should make the trade.
Sacks are play-ending and game-changing plays. Howell delivers them. He'd be a dream selection if the Patriots can go get him in similar fashion to their move for Lomu on Day 1.
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