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Saints Surprise With Defensive Pick in New PFF Mock Draft
PFF's latest mock has New Orleans taking Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell in the first round.
Published on Feb. 17, 2026
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In a new 2026 NFL mock draft from Pro Football Focus, the New Orleans Saints are projected to select Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell with their first-round pick. This comes as a surprise, as many previous mock drafts have linked the Saints to offensive weapons in the opening round.
Why it matters
The Saints have needs on both sides of the ball, so this pick would signal a shift in their draft strategy. Howell is a talented pass rusher, but there are other highly-rated offensive players available that could also help the Saints' offense led by quarterback Tyler Shough.
The details
PFF analyst Gordon McGuinness has the Saints taking the 6-foot-2, 248-pound Howell, who earned a 90.3 overall grade and 19.9% pass-rush win rate in 2025 for the Aggies. Howell had 15.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in 26 games at Texas A&M. The Saints could use the help on the defensive line, but passing on offensive weapons like wide receivers Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon is a tough call.
- The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April.
The players
Cashius Howell
A 6-foot-2, 248-pound edge rusher from Texas A&M who earned a 90.3 overall grade and 19.9% pass-rush win rate in 2025.
Tyler Shough
The Saints' starting quarterback who the team will be looking to build around in the draft.
Chase Young
The Saints' star defensive end who Howell could potentially form a formidable duo with.
Carnell Tate
A highly-rated wide receiver prospect who was selected sixth overall in this mock draft, but passed over by the Saints.
Makai Lemon
A wide receiver prospect from USC who was selected ninth overall, another offensive weapon the Saints could have taken.
What they’re saying
“The Saints could go in several directions here, but Howell makes sense because of the class' drop-off at edge defender after him. He earned a 90.3 PFF overall grade and produced a 19.9% PFF pass-rush win rate in 2025, and he could form a formidable duo with Chase Young in New Orleans.”
— Gordon McGuinness, PFF NFL Analyst (Yahoo Sports)
What’s next
The Saints will have a chance to address their offensive needs later in the draft, but this first-round pick on Cashius Howell would signal a shift in their strategy.
The takeaway
The Saints' selection of Cashius Howell in the first round would be a surprise, as many expected them to target an offensive playmaker to complement quarterback Tyler Shough. However, Howell's impressive production at Texas A&M makes him an intriguing defensive option that could help bolster the Saints' pass rush.
