Cashius Howell, other KC-area prospects hope to hear name in 2026 NFL Draft
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jalon Daniels is an undersized Jayhawks QB projected in sixth‑to‑seventh rounds.
- Texas A&M edge Cashius Howell is a Rockhurst alum viewed as a potential top prospect.
- Mizzou edge Zion Young has first‑round buzz and projects as an early starter.
The Kansas City metro always has major pro sports talent debuting yearly. The 2026 NFL Draft is no different.
The regional directional schools, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri, also have several players that could hear their name called on draft weekend.
For the Kansas Jayhawks, quarterback Jalon Daniels is an undersized prospect by NFL standards (6-foot-5/8 inches, 219 pounds), but his dynamic play and quality interviews with teams, even with the ugly lows, has seen his draft stock rise throughout the process. Mock drafts see him as a Day 3 selection, likely in the sixth and seventh rounds.
Kansas also has a few offensive linemen who could also go on Day 3: interior OL Kobe Baynes and Bryce Foster and tackle Enrique Cruz. Wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. is also a possible third-day selection.
Kansas State has two mid-round (third to fifth round) prospects who have been tabbed as potential hidden gems by some analysts: former walk-on offensive lineman and Mill Valley product Sam Hecht and defensive back VJ Payne.
To be sure, Mizzou has a host of prospects who could possibly hear their name called this weekend.
Edge rusher Zion Young has been getting first-round buzz by analysts with some sending him to the Chiefs at 29th overall in draft predictions. His size and strength (6-foot-5, 262 lbs.) along with his run- stopping technique see him projected as an early starter. He took more than 10 top-30 visits throughout the pre-draft process but didn’t visit KC, according to reports.
Linebacker Josiah Trotter isn’t far behind; he is seen as a Day 2 pick, primarily in the second round. Some analysts have him sneaking into the first round in a deep LB class.
Other Tigers could see themselves drafted in Day 3: WR Kevin Coleman Jr., DT Chris McClellan, DB Toriano Pride Jr., and OL Keagen Trost. Coleman and McClellan are regarded as top-100 picks.
Several Kansas City metro natives will likely hear their names called or could be called into a rookie training camp after the draft.
Kansas City’s next first-round pick could be Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell, a Rockhurst alum. At 6-foot-2, 263 pounds, he is an explosive pass rusher with a quick get-off and fluid athleticism.
Howell was ranked a three-star recruit and spent his first three seasons at Bowling Green. He hit the transfer portal after a breakout sophomore season (9.5 sacks, 10.5 TFL) in 2023 and went to College Station. As a senior, he collected 11 sacks and became A&M’s first SEC Defensive Player of the Year since the team joined the conference in 2012.
Some of the knocks on Howell are references to inconsistent pass rushes and, similar to Miami EDGE Rueben Bain, he has shorts arms by NFL standards. For Howell, they measured at 30 and 1/4 inches at the NFL Combine and 31 inches at his pro day. Some analysts believe that won’t hinder Howell’s pro success, given his already proven high-level college production.
Other local prospects will likely be taken after the first round: Iowa State DT Domonique Orange (North Kansas City High), Arizona State LB Keyshaun Elliott (Richmond), Oregon WR Malik Benson (Lansing High) and Iowa OL Beau Stephens (Blue Springs High School).
Florida wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant grew up in Overland Park and went to Blue Valley Northwest for two years before moving to the Dallas-area and playing at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas. He is considered a Day 3 prospect.
Tight ends John Michael Gyllenborg (Wyoming and Rockhurst High) and Miles Kitselman (Tennessee and Lyndon, Kansas) would also seem to be on the board.
