Patriots Predicted To Select ‘Scary’ Athletic EDGE Rusher In Latest Mock Draft
The New England Patriots lost in Super Bowl LX on Sunday, and already the focus has shifted to the offseason.
New England suffered a 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, which means the Patriots will have the 31st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Patriots have a young team and not many glaring holes, so the team can pick the best player available.
NFL Draft analyst Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic predicted New England will select Cashius Howell, an EDGE rusher from Texas A&M who’s an athletic freak.
“Howell’s role in the NFL might be limited mostly to third downs — he’s just 6-2, 249,” Baumgardner wrote, in a piece published on Monday. “But his athleticism off the edge is scary good. The lack of size and length is a concern, but Howell moves like a basketball player on a football field.”
Howell recorded 31 tackles and 11.5 sacks last season at Texas A&M as a fifth-year senior. He spent three years at Bowling Green before transferring to play for the Aggies for his final two seasons.
Baumgardner then has the Patriots selecting Keionte Scott, a cornerback from Miami, in the second round. New England would then pick Jalen Farmer, an interior offensive lineman from Kentucky, in the third round in Baumgardner’s latest mock draft.
The 2026 NFL Draft is set for April 23-25.