Former KC prep football stars Howell & ‘Big Citrus’ selected on NFL Draft’s Day 2
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Cashius Howell of Rockhurst was selected No. 41 overall by the Bengals in 2026 NFL Draft.
- Domonique Orange of North Kansas City HS goes No. 82 overall to the Minnesota Vikings.
- Howell is described as a potential designated rusher with value as a nose tackle.
Two former Kansas City high school football standouts are now NFL players.
Edge rusher Cashius Howell, who played at Rockhurst before starring for Bowling Green and then the Texas A&M Aggies in college, was selected in Friday night’s second round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 41 overall).
And then, in the second of two rounds completed Friday — the three-day draft in Pittsburgh began Thursday — the Minnesota Vikings selected another KC native: former North Kansas City High defensive lineman Domonique Orange.
Orange, who progressed from Northtown to a stellar college career at Iowa State, was picked No. 82 overall.
About Cashius Howell
Howell came into the draft listed at 6-foot-2 1/2 and 253 pounds. Here’s his pre-draft NFL.com scouting profile via Lance Zierlein:
“Bendy edge rusher with standout sack totals. Burst and elusiveness are on Howell’s rush menu and he pairs it with a refreshing inside spin counter. Though threatening, his rush could use more cohesive sequencing and better hand work to fully unlock its potential.
“As a run defender he’s frequently knocked around at the point and struggles to consistently execute tasks asked of an NFL edge-setter. Howell might not be a three-down player right away, but his ability to create pressure sets him up for a role as a designated rusher, at minimum.”
About Domonique Orange
Orange’s vitals are listed at 6-foot-2 and 3/8, 322 pounds. Here’s his NFL.com scouting profile, again courtesy of Zierlein:
“Orange is a sturdy nose tackle capable of muddying the middle of the field with his first-step quickness and take-on power. His reaction time makes it hard to reach-block him in zone and he has the anchor to play landlord over the A-gaps against double-teams.
“He gets bounced around on contact but is excellent in recovery and winning the final phase of the rep. Orange is a non-factor as a pass rusher, but his value versus the run should attract teams.