49ers warned to avoid one edge rusher in 2026 NFL Draft

There's a strong possibility the San Francisco 49ers will target a pass rusher when they're on the clock at No. 27 overall. The team totaled just 20 sacks last season—the fewest in the NFL.

Injuries played a major role. The 49ers were without star defensive end Nick Bosa and first-round pick Mykel Williams due to ACL injuries. Still, the inability to generate a steady pass rush created a ripple effect across the defense.

Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report recently identified one prospect each NFL team should avoid in the 2026 NFL Draft. For the 49ers, his choice was former Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell—a player who has been linked to San Francisco in mock drafts.

Ballentine isn't alone in that assessment. Garrett Podell of CBS Sports also connected Howell to the 49ers—but not as a good fit. In his attempt to build the "worst mock draft ever," designed to frustrate fan bases, Podell sent Howell to San Francisco.

So why the hesitation?

Despite Howell's production—11.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss last season, and 25 sacks over the past three years—Ballentine believes the fit simply isn't there.

"The reality is that Howell has too many limitations to make sense in the 49ers defense," Ballentine explained. "Right now, they have Williams, Nick Bosa, and Keion White as their top three players on the edge. All three have the kind of size and play strength needed to hold up on the edge.

"Howell, on the other hand, is undersized at 6'2", 253 pounds. He also has a zero percentile arm length for the position. That's really hard to overlook, regardless of athleticism."

Ballentine also emphasized the bigger picture. While the 49ers remain contenders, their core is aging, making this draft critical to sustaining long-term success.

"Trusting Howell, a size outlier who will struggle to hold up against the run, to be that kind of prospect is just not realistic," Ballentine concluded.

For a team with clear needs at multiple positions, the 49ers can't afford to miss at pick No. 27.