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Patriots Absolutely Nailed Selection Of Gabe Jacas, Who Has Superstar Ceiling originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriotsselected defensive lineman Gabe Jacas with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jacas, who was widely expected to be off the board by the middle of the second round, was taken following the organization's second consecutive trade up -- with No. 63, 131, and 202 going to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Patriots must have really liked what they saw out of our pre-draft profile.
Jacas' full draft profile can be found below, along with quotes from experts, the team, and... well, me:
BIO:
Gabe Jacas
Position: EDGE
Height: 6' 3 5/8"
Weight: 260 lbs
Hand: 10"
Arm: 33"
Scouting Combine: 30 (Bench Press)
WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING:
Jacas won’t consistently outrace NFL tackles, but his powerful, proficient technique and aggressive play demeanor should translate well to the next level. He projects as a rotational edge defender. - The Athletic's Dane Brugler
The Patriots ranked 19th in pass rush win rate last season and lost K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency, so Jacas slots in well as the third New England edge behind Harold Landry III and free agent addition Dre'Mont Jones. Jacas had 19 sacks over the past two seasons with Illinois and is also a dedicated run defender. - ESPN's Aaron Schatz
Jacas is well-built with tremendous play strength and the ability to play as a hand-down end or a stand-up edge. He’s more rugged than explosive and twitchy. He can hold his ground against power but needs to do a better job of playing with discipline to set and contain his edge. Jacas’ pass-rush plan lacks creativity but features a good deal of force and leg drive to bully his way into the pocket once he opens the tackle’s edge. His play is more steak than sizzle with average sack production expected, but his field demeanor and play strength foreshadow a long career as an NFL starter. - NFL Media's Lance Zierlein
WHAT THE PATRIOTS ARE SAYING:
"I'm an easy-going guy. Easy to get along with. I'm a people person who can get along with everyone. I'm very energetic, very goofy. .. I'm excited to bring that energy to New England." - Gabe Jacas
"I just love how the coaching staff treated me when I got there. They challenged me not only physically but mentally. ... It's my brand of football." - Gabe Jacas
WHAT I'M SAYING:
PLAYER BREAKDOWN: Jacas was one of my favorite players in the entire draft, which you probably could have gathered if you read the pre-draft profile that is linked above. I've gone back-and-forth on whether or not he would actually be a fit, because it certainly looks as though he has all the skills coveted by this coaching staff but we heard the words "speed" and "agility" used to describe what they would be looking for -- this guy is more of an absolute maniac.
If you're looking for the high-end comparison, it's easily Matthew Judon.
PICK BREAKDOWN: Jacas will immediately push Harold Landry III and Dre'Mont Jones.
The Patriots continued their aggressive approach, and they were allowed to because they know that the floor is so high with this player -- he'll immediately become their best backside run defender and has the necessary tools to become a double-digit sack artist. I don't think they could have done much better than this one...
GRADE: A+
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