With the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft, along comes the early predictions for the 2026 selections next April.
For the past two seasons, way-too-early mock drafts have had the Lions taking a defensive lineman, and this year is no different. Most of these mock drafts are crafted months before the college football season starts, and prioritize team needs over anything else.
In PFF's way-too-early 2024 mock draft, they had the Lions selecting defensive lineman Maason Smith in the first round. Smith went on to be a second-round pick in 2024, recording three sacks in his rookie year in Jacksonville.
In PFF's 2025 version, they had the Lions selecting edge rusher JT Tuimoloau. The Ohio State edge rusher had 12.5 sacks in his final year in Columbus before being taken by the Colts in the second round of the 2025 draft.
For 2026, it's more of the same for the Detroit Lions.
Once again, draft experts expect the Lions to select an edge rusher
Despite years of data backing up the fact that Brad Holmes doesn't draft based on need, the mock drafters still expect the Lions to take an edge rusher in the first round.
ESPN's Jordan Reid put out his 2026 mock draft on Thursday and had the Lions picking at No. 29. With that pick, Reid had the Lions selecting Cashius Howell, an edge rusher from Texas A&M.
Howell has played three full seasons of college football, his first two being at Bowling Green and his most recent season being for the Aggies. His best season came in his 2023 campaign at Bowling Green, when he totaled 9.5 sacks in 13 games, earning himself a transfer to the SEC.
This season, Howell mostly played behind Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton. Stewart was selected at No. 17 to the Cincinnati Bengals while Scourton was picked No. 51 by the Carolina Panthers in this year's draft. Howell recorded just four sacks in 2024, but sitting behind two top-60 players explains that.
Howell is a very speedy linebacker-type edge rusher. According to NFLDraftBuzz, his 40-yard dash time is 4.65, which puts him in the 93rd percentile for his position.
"High-motor player with excellent pursuit skills, consistently making backside plays and wearing down opponents in the fourth quarter," are some of his strengths listed on NFLDraftBuzz.
Holmes and Campbell are always looking for these high-motor guys. Aidan Hutchinson, one of the first very impactful draft picks from this regime, is one of these high-motor guys who breaks you down late in games, so Howell may be a great fit opposite of Hutch.
The reason I talked about previous "way-too-early" mock drafts to start this piece is simple: it is way too early, and these predictions mean nothing. However, it is interesting to look at prospects who could be in the range of your draft pick next season, and I think Howell could be a great fit.
