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The Detroit Lions are set to pick at No. 50 in the 2026 NFL Draft's Day 2. ESPN identifies Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas as the best fit for the Lions' needs in the second round.
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Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft is upon us and it's just about set to get underway in Pittsburgh.
After the Lions selected Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller at No. 17 overall in the first round, Detroit owns just the lone selection on Day 2. The Lions will be picking at No. 50 overall in the second round of the NFL draft. Detroit has eight remaining selections across the NFL draft's final six rounds.
According to ESPN, the Lions' top remaining needs include EDGE, cornerback, defensive tackle and running back.
As the second round arrives, here's who ESPN's Ben Solak tabbed as the Lions' best second-round fit: Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas.
The Lions' two most pressing needs entering the draft were potential starters at tackle and edge (opposite Aidan Hutchinson). In Round 1, one domino fell with Blake Miller. Now it's time for the second.
The Detroit Lions are targeting Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas as their best fit for the second round.
The Lions' top remaining needs include EDGE, cornerback, defensive tackle, and running back.
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Jacas is a heavy-handed slugger ready to go pound for pound against NFL tackles. A prolific high school wrestler, Jacas has impressive core and grip strength, which allows him to ragdoll bigger bodies against both the run and the pass. He doesn't have the quickest first step, but he has a deep bag of quick strikes developed over 43 starts that allows him to soften angles in the pass rush.
Jacas is similar to players who have lined up opposite Hutchinson in the past, like Marcus Davenport, Al-Quadin Muhammad and DJ Wonnum. He has all the makings of a productive Year 1 pro as the Lions try to claw their way back to the top of the NFC North. - Ben Solak, ESPN
It definitely feels as though the Lions will likely draft an EDGE with its second choice in the NFL draft, assuming that the Lions stay put at No. 50 overall.
Jacas totaled 19 sacks over his final two collegiate seasons, including 11 last year with the Illini. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound EDGE out of Illinois also forced three fumbles last season.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: ESPN shares Detroit Lions' best NFL draft Day 2 fit