The Patriots could have two more games remaining in their season, but it’s never too early to start thinking about potential players New England could bring in to bolster its roster for next season.
New England welcomed the Houston Texans to town on Sunday, featuring standout pass rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. In light of this, the Patriots may want to consider drafting their own marquee pass rusher in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
CBS Sports NFL writer Josh Edwards released a mock draft on Monday, predicting that the Patriots will select Texas A&M pass rusher Cashius Howell with the 30th pick.
“Cashius Howell is a younger version of Harold Landry III and K’Lavon Chaisson,” Edwards wrote. “New England has squeezed all the juice from those oranges, but Howell brings longevity to the position, a vital objective considering Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye should be around for a long time.”
Howell spent the last two seasons with the Aggies after beginning his collegiate career at Bowling Green, where he played for three years. Over the course of 56 games, Howell recorded 27 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss. This season, he had a breakout performance, achieving 11.5 sacks, which is the highest total he’s had in a single season.
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The Patriots should seriously consider selecting a young pass rusher in the first round, as this year’s edge class is expected to be deep. This could lead them to secure an outstanding player.
