The New York Jets are being tied to a defensive centerpiece in a new 2027 NFL mock draft, with Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department projecting Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles to land in New York.
That fits the direction the Jets are trying to take under head coach Aaron Glenn. After going 3-14 last season, New York heads into 2026 looking for progress, not a quick fix. Glenn is entering his second season with the franchise, and the expectation is that he needs time to shape the roster the way he wants it.
The Jets also haven’t reached the playoffs since the 2010 season, and there’s no simple switch to flip that changes everything overnight. So while Glenn has faced heat, the bigger picture in New York is about building the right foundation and seeing which pieces can stick long term.
That’s where the draft comes in. With three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft and no real expectation that the Jets will be contending in 2026, they have a real chance to accelerate the rebuild.
Bleacher Report’s projection gives them a defensive tackle with the kind of traits teams covet inside.
"There's a lot to like about Echoles as a run defender. He's strong to win at the point of attack, quick off the ball to get penetration or shoot a gap and he has the lateral movement skills to avoid getting reached. Echoles is still putting it all together to become a more consistent pass-rusher, but the traits are present for him to blossom into a complete defensive tackle," Bleacher Report's Scouting Department wrote.
In the mock, New York had already taken a quarterback, which opened the door for a pick like Echoles. And for a Jets team still working to reinforce its defense, that kind of addition makes sense in the framework Glenn is trying to build.
Echoles would bring more than just upside. He posted 68 total tackles, including 11.5 for loss, and five sacks last season at Ole Miss. That production helped power the Rebels and played a big part in their run to the College Football Playoff.
For the Jets, a young defensive tackle with that profile could be a strong fit alongside the other young talent already on the roster. New York has been aiming to build a defense in the mold of recent Super Bowl winners, and adding Echoles would line up with that vision.
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