Patriots selected Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jacas (6’3/260) is a rocked-up, high-output pass rusher who led the Big Ten with 11 sacks while posting 16 havoc plays and 12.5 TFL across 285 pass-rush reps. He generated 33 pressures (11.6% pressure rate) with 11 sacks created and 3 forced fumbles, flashing finishing ability once he wins and a knack for converting disruption into splash plays. Jacas’ 53 tackles with a 91.4% tackle rate and 73.6% run-stop share underscore a sturdy early-down floor, though his run defense remains more physical than precise. His average length and burst limit his ability to consistently corner NFL tackles, and he can get stuck on blocks or lose contain versus down blocks when his eyes drift. Jacas projects as a core rotational EDGE who can contribute immediately in pressure packages, with upside to outperform that role if his hand usage and rush sequencing continue to sharpen.
