In the aftermath of the NFL Draft, it was revealed that the Jaguars were looking to trade into the first round this year in return for their first-rounder in 2027, but only if they could acquire an extra second or a third.
This made sense when you take into account that the 2027 draft is expected to be better. But in the end, the Jags didn't trade up and kept their first next year. That's great news, because they'll get to pick an impact player, which is precisely what they do in a recent NFL Mock Draft.
The Jaguars take Willl Echoles at No. 16 in CBS Sports' new 2027 NFL Mock Draft
Mike Renner of CBS Sports did a 2027 NFL Mock Draft and had the Jaguars taking Will Echoles at No. 16, arguing that the Ole Miss defensive tackle can give their interior pass rush a boost. Here's the skinny.
"I thought Jacksonville would add more interior pass-rush juice in this past draft, but it looks like that may have to wait until 2027, when more options should be available," Renner wrote. "Will Echoles is a quintessential three-technique whose game isn't too dissimilar from former Ole Miss first-rounder Walker Nolen III."
For context Walter Nolan went to the Arizona Cardinals in the first round last year. However, toe, calf, and knee injuries limited his impact.
Circling back to Renner's remarks, he wasn't the only one who thought Jacksonville was going to bolster the interior defensive line early in the draft (guilty as charged). However, defensive tackle might have become less of a priority when the team's brass sent Maason Smith to the Atlanta Falcons in return for Ruke Orhororo.
Couple that with the fact that this wasn't a good year to pick a defensive tackle, and it's easy to see why the Jags prioritized other positions and waited until Round 3 to select Albert Regis at No. 81.
Anyway, the Jaguars would properly address the interior defensive line with Echoles. At 6'3", he's already a stud against the run, but needs to work on his pass-rush technique if he wants to make an impact as a three-down player at the NFL level.
Either way, Echoles has the tools and the upside to become an impact player, so it makes sense for the Jaguars to set their sights on him. Having said that, if they're picking at No. 16 next year, that means that they won't qualify for the postseason, which wouldn't be an ideal outcome.
Why it makes sense for the Jaguars to draft Will Echoles
DaVon Hamilton and Arik Armstead are entering contract years, and it's hard to tell whether either one is part of the team's long-term plans. If both of them leave, the Jaguars will have to replace them in 2027. That's where drafting Will Echoles or any other defensive tackle makes sense.
On the other hand, Jacksonville traded for Ruke Orhorhoro and later drafted Albert Regis. The expectation is that they're going to play a big role up front, but there's a chance one of them (or both) fails to pan out. If that's the case, the interior defensive line will become a big priority.
The truth is that it's a bit too premature to tell whether defensive tackle will be the Jags' biggest weakness next season, but it's certainly trending that way, so they'll need to at last turn their attention to adding reinforcements at the position.
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