Grading Patriots' selection of LB Gabe Jacas in 2026 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots knew who they liked, and they weren't afraid to spend three draft picks to get him.

After taking Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Patriots traded up to address their major need at edge rusher. And with that, they landed one of the most physical defensive enforcers in the entire draft with Illinois' Gabe Jacas.

It ultimately cost the Patriots picks No. 63, 131 and 202 to trade up the board with the Los Angeles Chargers and get their guy.

Out of all of the edge rushers on the board, Jacas was the best fit for the Patriots. He comes from a wrestling background and has the ability to win inside and outside in the trenches. The First-Team All-Big Ten defender plays with tenacity and violence that is felt on every snap.

He racked up a career-high 11 sacks with the Fighting Illini last season, along with 13.5 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles. Couple that with the fact that he was a team captain, and this feels like a home run pick for the Patriots.

It's a pick that could have easily slipped away from them if they weren't aggressive on the board. The team couldn't afford to go into the season without injecting more life into the pass rush. Sure, Harold Landry III is still a solid contributor when healthy, and Dre'Mont Jones should give the team what they lost with K'Lavon Chaisson, at the very least.

But there were some real questions with the depth on the edge with Bradyn Swinson, Elijah Ponder and . Can any of those guys, particularly Ponder and Swinson, develop into more consistent contributors in 2026?