Meet the Rising Star Who Could Be the Cowboys’ Next Micah Parsons

The Dallas Cowboys’ stealth target for replacing Micah Parsons

The Dallas Cowboys are widely expected to dedicate one of their 2026 first-round picks to shore up their pass rush next spring. And fortunately for them, the upcoming draft is rich with EDGE prospects of various styles.

But what Dallas really needs is someone who can win off the edge with speed and burst. While Donovan Ezeiruaku remains a hopeful candidate to fill that role, they need yet another high-octane threat. One name in the 2026 NFL Draft is quietly emerging as a perfect fit for the role.

Meet Cashius Howell — the ideal first-round pick for Dallas

In a recent mock draft by Rob Rang at Fox Sports, Howell is projected to be selected by the Cowboys at No. 15 overall. Here’s why Rang believes Howell could be the answer in Dallas:

"No individual rusher in this class is going to make the Cowboys forget about Micah Parsons (or DeMarcus Lawrence for that matter), but scouts in Dallas won’t have to venture far to find quality defenders capable of helping turn around the league’s leakiest defense. Howell flashed at Bowling Green, and while serving as an oft-used and versatile backup for Texas A&M a year ago. But the passionate defender has emerged as a verifiable star for the Aggies this season, leading the SEC with 9.5 sacks through eight games."

There’s a lot to like about Howell: multiple seasons of production, a lightning-fast first step, and a knack for bending the edge. His lack of prototypical size — notably short arm length, measured under 31″ during spring workouts — is noted as a weakness.

But here’s the kicker: some of the best pass rushers in the NFL have operated with below-average arm length, yet excelled via quickness and bend (think of names like Von Miller). Howell’s game already draws comparisons to Miller thanks to his ability to turn the corner.

The Cowboys will leave no stone unturned in search of edge help—and Howell is shaping into a strong target for Round 1. His size may preclude a Top 10 slot, but that could play right into Dallas’s hands come next April. Keep an eye on him the rest of the college season: he may not be Von Miller yet, but his production and tape make him hard to ignore.