Overview
- Howell was Cincinnati’s second‑round pick after a 2025 season that earned him SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and 11.5 sacks.
- Coaches gave Howell increased first‑team snaps after practice reps in which he beat starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., a performance that accelerated his evaluation.
- Veterans publicly lauded Howell’s early camp play, with Jonathan Allen calling him “the real deal” and Boye Mafe saying Howell will be a force once he settles in.
- Head coach Zac Taylor credited Howell’s physicality and natural pass‑rush ability as reasons for his rapid rise on the depth chart.
- Cincinnati’s offseason rebuild of the defense — the addition of Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook plus young edges like Howell and Cedric Johnson — will be judged this preseason on whether it produces a noticeably better pass rush.