# Mike Moraitis: Moraitis argues Echoles could be the first defensive lineman drafted in 2027 and that they will be a first-round pick, and that the Bears should prioritize them in Round 1. **Claimed:** Sep 3, 2026 **Pundit:** Mike Moraitis — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-moraitis **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/onsi/bears-predicted-to-continue-dl-overhaul-after-gervon-dexter-trade-by-drafting-ole-miss-prospect 2 checkable claims — 1 mock draft pick and 1 position order call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room. > Echoles has an opportunity to be the first defensive lineman off the board in 2027, assuming he declares after his junior year. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Will Echoles to be picked “Round 1”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Will Echoles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Will Echoles to be 1st defensive lineman off the board** - Kind: Position Order Calls · About: Will Echoles - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Will Echoles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/will-echoles ## What others said about the same people - Ryan Wilson on Will Echoles: Wilson's 2027 first-round mock draft has Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith going No. 1 overall to the Chargers, five quarterbacks taken in Round 1 (Mensah first among them), and the Browns trading up for Drew Mestemaker. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1b9d164f-69dc-41a3-9ed7-8a6bc6eacc32 (not settled) - Justin Melo on Will Echoles: Melo's 2027 first-round mock draft assigns all 32 picks, headlined by Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith going No. 1 overall to the Chargers and Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker as the first quarterback off the board at No. 3 to Miami. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6ccbdee9-822a-4693-8aca-332b4ecaae65 (not settled) - Josh Edwards on Will Echoles: In a way-too-early 2027 mock draft, Edwards has the Jets using their three top-12 picks on Notre Dame QB CJ Carr at No. 7, Clemson CB Ashton Hampton at No. 10, and Ole Miss DL Will Echoles at No. 12. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/eb4962c2-1280-4583-8b47-525fddbe9c11 (not settled) - Josh Edwards on Will Echoles: In a 2027 NFL mock draft following Week 7, Edwards projects the full first round, including five quarterbacks in Round 1, with the Jets holding three top-12 picks and landing C.J. Carr, Ashton Hampton and Will Echoles. They also project Day 2 picks for the Colts, Packers and Rams. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/abd9a1da-176c-4a32-999f-218481fb2d7c (not settled) - Josh Edwards on Will Echoles: In a 2027 NFL mock draft, Edwards projects a full first round plus three additional picks for teams without first-rounders, with Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker going No. 1 to Miami and Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith falling to No. 3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e428f868-3244-4dad-b00d-c8b2aa217f8a (not settled) - Richie Bradshaw on Will Echoles: In a quarter-season 2027 NFL mock draft, Bradshaw assigns all 32 first-round picks, starting with Miami taking Duke-turned-Miami QB Darian Mensah first overall, Jeremiah Smith to Tennessee at No. 2 and the Cardinals landing Dante Moore at No. 3. They also name their positional pecking order, including Mensah as QB1, Charlie Becker as WR2, Greg Johnson as the top interior offensive lineman and Kingston Lopa as the first safety off the board. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0132757d-e1aa-4ea7-a151-2106c01717c3 (not settled) ## More position order calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Joe Marino on Arvell Reese: Marino stacks 14 inside linebackers in the 2026 NFL draft class and assigns each a round-value grade, with Sonny Styles first (top-10 grade) and Anthony Hill third; they say Hill would be their preferred pick if Buffalo takes a linebacker at No. 26. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa349c5e-12c5-4b82-84ad-aff5d3bba78b (scored 100) - Ian Rapoport on Tetairoa McMillan: Rapoport said Travis Hunter is likely the pick at No. 2 for the Browns, that Shedeur Sanders is in play at No. 3, and predicted Tetairoa McMillan would be the first receiver drafted. They also expected Brock Purdy's next deal to land around $50 million per year with Dak Prescott remaining the only quarterback above $60 million. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ab1b5fb3-d399-4b59-87fa-3e683b3cad77 (scored 70.71) - Peter Schrager on Tetairoa McMillan: Schrager laid out their top 10 prospects entering the 2025 combine, with Travis Hunter first, Abdul Carter second and Tyler Warren third, and attached draft-range calls to several of them — Will Johnson in the first round, Mason Graham a top-five pick, Ashton Jeanty a first-rounder, Tyler Warren not escaping the top ten, and Cam Ward a top-five to top-ten pick who will start as a rookie. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6346ea38-e7e1-45a3-a146-5231338dd001 (scored 70.71) - Matty Lane on Spencer Fano: Maddie Lane said Spencer Fano is clearly the first tackle off the board, that the top four players in their mock will be four of the first five picks, that Malik Mohammed goes ahead of Igbunosin, and that Blake Miller would beat out Jalen Moore for the Chiefs' starting job. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/61fb26a0-be21-4ad0-bc4f-de49db439f63 (scored 100) - Nick Shook on Francis Mauigoa: Shook walks through their full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7d4209aa-2e2d-47a2-b6e5-791d16d209cb (scored 70.71) - Daniel Jeremiah on Spencer Fano: Jeremiah's Mock Draft 3.0, discussed pick by pick: Mendoza first overall, Arvell Reese to the Jets at 2, Francis Mauigoa to the Cardinals at 3, Jeremiyah Love to the Titans at 4, Sonny Styles to the Giants at 5, and on through the first round. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/81b98180-a971-4b4f-a610-5aa2906a1ea5 (scored 70.71) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. 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