Gabe

Jacas

Jacas is the only second-round pick from the 2026 NFL Draft who remains unsigned. The former Illinois pass-rusher was dealing with a hamstring injury throughout the draft process, and according to Reiss, NFL teams that evaluated Jacas during the pre-draft process discovered a torn labrum and a stress fracture. The injury that reportedly caused him to miss OTAs and minicamp was a knee procedure. During his four-year college career, Jacas played in 50 games, racking up 27 tackles and 35.5 TFLs. He’ll eventually sign his rookie deal and report to the team, but it doesn’t sound like he’s anywhere close to suiting up. We’re still waiting for a clear report from the team on a timeline for Jacas’ return.

He won’t participate in OTAs, and Jacas has yet to sign his rookie contract. We’ll get additional details as they emerge. There’s probably nothing immediately pressing about this news, but given how important it is for rookies to state their cases for playing time early, Jacas is probably at a disadvantage for getting early snaps in New England’s edge rusher room.

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.