The Dallas Cowboys’ defense has already put its flaws on display early in the 2026-27 NFL season, and the issues are the same familiar ones: trouble against the run, shaky answers for mobile quarterbacks, busted coverages in the secondary and too many failed third-down stands. With Week 3 looming against the Baltimore Ravens, Christian Parker’s rebuilt unit still looks like a work in progress.
That’s why a fresh 2027 mock draft from SI.com offers Dallas an intriguing answer. In a first round that sees seven quarterbacks come off the board, the Cowboys are able to land one of the draft’s top interior defensive linemen: Ole Miss tackle Will Echoles.
Echoles arrived in the conversation after a dominant showing in the Rebels’ upset of LSU last weekend, and the scouting report attached to him is the kind Dallas could use up front.
"The 6'3", 315-pound defensive enforcer was dominant in Ole Miss’s win over LSU and is well on his way to being the first interior defender taken in next year’s draft," SI.com's Gilberto Manzano wrote.
"His movement around blockers is uncommon for a player of his size. Echoles’s versatility fits today’s NFL, which needs well-rounded interior defenders who can stop the run and provide plenty of pass-rushing help. "
That word - versatility - jumps out immediately. Parker’s defensive rebuild has clearly valued players who can move around and handle different jobs, and Echoles fits that mold. He brings the kind of disruptive presence that can help stabilize the middle of the defense, and he also comes with leadership ability.
The production backs up the buzz. Through three games this season, Echoles has 9 total tackles, three tackles for a loss, and 0.5 sacks. His sophomore breakout in 2025 was even more eye-opening, finishing with 68 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, and five sacks.
For now, Dallas can only keep watching how Echoles performs the rest of the college season and wait to see where the Cowboys end up in the 2027 draft order.
The 2027 NFL Draft is scheduled for Thursday, April 29, through Saturday, May 1, at the National Mall outside of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
In Other News...
Cowboys Fans Wont Like What The NFL Did To Jake Ferguson
Jake Fergusons Week 2 celebration has turned into a league office issue, with the Cowboys tight end fined $13,611 by the NFL for what was deemed an offensive gesture after he appeared to imitate shotgunning a beer. The moment drew attention in the aftermath of the game, and now Ferguson is dealing with the kind of offseason-style discipline that can follow even a brief celebration on Sundays.
Ferguson plans to appeal, which keeps the matter from being fully settled just yet, and it adds another line to a growing list of Cowboys-related fines this season. The NFL has handed out similar penalties to other players as well, but for Dallas fans, the frustration is less about the league being consistent than about seeing another team regular flagged for something that happened in the heat of the moment. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Quarterback Search Takes A Turn Ravens Fans Should Notice
The Giants quarterback search has taken another quiet turn after the season-ending injury to their starter, with the team now sorting through both short-term stability and longer-term depth. Jameis Winston is set to start for now, but the front office is still surveying the market as it tries to make sure the position is covered beyond the immediate fix.
One name floating in the background is Joe Milton, who remains on the Cowboys practice squad, though Josina Anderson reported the Giants have not made any formal move to acquire him. For Dallas, it is another reminder that quarterback speculation can hover around the roster even when nothing is imminent, and for the Giants the situation is still fluid as they weigh whether to stay patient or act before the picture gets any clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Ferguson's Breakout Game Just Sparked Another NFL Debate
Jake Fergusons latest on-field celebration did not just follow a breakout performance, it also landed him in the middle of one of the NFLs more familiar style-policing debates. The league fined the Cowboys tight end for imitating a shotgunning-a-beer celebration during the game, part of a broader crackdown on what the NFL classifies as offensive demonstrations.
Ferguson was not alone in getting hit. Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Matt Goncalves and San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk were also fined for beer-themed celebrations, with Juszczyks penalty tied to a chugging gesture. For Dallas, it is another reminder that even a moment of flair can come with a price tag once the league reviews the tape. [Read more 🡒]