Texans Eye Ole Miss Tackle William Echoles at No. 5
A 2027 NFL mock draft projects Houston selecting the first-team All-SEC defensive tackle in next year's draft.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
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Pro Football Network's 2027 NFL mock draft projects the Houston Texans selecting Ole Miss defensive tackle William Echoles at No. 5 overall. Echoles was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2025 and anchored a defensive line that reached the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Why it matters
The projection places a defensive tackle at the top of Houston's draft board as the team continues to build its front. It also reflects a best-player-available approach that the mock draft assumes the Texans will take into next year's selection.
The mock draft slots Echoles at No. 5 overall, a projection rather than a confirmed selection. Echoles earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2025 while playing for Ole Miss.
The players
William Echoles
Echoles is an Ole Miss defensive tackle who was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2025.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are the NFL franchise based in Houston that is projected to select Echoles at No. 5 overall.
Pro Football Network
Pro Football Network is a sports media outlet that published the 2027 NFL mock draft projecting Echoles to Houston.
Kayden McDonald
Kayden McDonald is an Ohio State alumnus whom the Texans selected last April after a trade up.
The details
The mock draft selects Echoles at No. 5 overall on a best-player-available basis. Houston's last April trade up to select Ohio State's Kayden McDonald is part of the context for the team's current defensive line depth, and the Texans return to the field this week against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Timeline
2025 season: Echoles earned first-team All-SEC honors and reached the CFP semifinal.
Last April: The Texans traded up to select Kayden McDonald.
Next April: The 2027 NFL Draft, where the Texans are projected to pick at No. 5.
This week: The Texans play the Los Angeles Chargers, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. local time on CBS.
Season Trajectory
The projection comes as Houston continues to build its defensive front following last April's trade up to select Kayden McDonald. Pro Football Network believes the Texans will move up in the draft order by the end of the season, which would shift how the team approaches its top selection.
For Texans fans tracking the roster, the projection points to defensive tackle as a potential priority in next year's draft. Echoles' All-SEC honors and playoff run at Ole Miss give readers a concrete measure of the prospect being mocked to Houston.
The takeaway
The mock draft is a projection, not a selection, so the Texans' actual pick will depend on how the season unfolds and where Houston finishes in the draft order. Readers following the team should track both the Chargers game this week and the draft board as the year progresses.
What happens next
The Texans face the Los Angeles Chargers this week with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. local time on CBS, and the 2027 NFL Draft will determine whether the No. 5 projection holds.
Further reading
For more on the team's draft outlook, see Football coverage of the Houston Texans.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Texans Wire.
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