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Twitter reacts to Patriots trading up, drafting LB Gabe Jacas on Day 2
TL;DR
The New England Patriots selected edge rusher Gabe Jacas from Illinois with the 55th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after trading up with the Los Angeles Chargers. Jacas, a First-Team All-Big Ten defender, addresses the team's edge-rushing needs.
Key points
- Patriots selected Gabe Jacas with the 55th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
- Jacas recorded 43 tackles and 11 sacks last season
- Patriots traded picks No. 63, 131, and 202 to acquire Jacas
- Jacas fills a critical edge-rushing need for the Patriots
- Social media reactions to the pick were largely positive
Gabe JacasIllinoisNew England PatriotsLos Angeles Chargers
The New England Patriots selected edge rusher Gabe Jacas from Illinois with the 55th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. They used picks No. 63, 131 and 202 to move up in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers to get their man on Friday night. Jacas, a First-Team All-Big Ten defender, fills an immediate edge-rushing need for the Patriots. He recorded 43 tackles, 11 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss last season. He also proved to be a disruptor in terms of creating turnovers, as he forced three fumbles on the year to go along with seven quarterback hurries and 22 quarterback hits. Heading into the draft, the Patriots' top two options at edge rusher were Dre'Mont Jones and Harold Landry III. K'Lavon Chaisson signed with the Washington Commanders in free agency, and the Patriots released Anfernee Jennings this offseason. Now, Jacas, a former two-time high school state wrestling champion, will step in and try to help fill the void. Here are some of the reactions on social media to the Patriots' Day 2 draft pick:
#Patriots rookie Gabe Jacas was an All-State wrestler in high school and was thought to be the most violent pass rusher in the draft class.
🔹6’4” 🔹260lbs 🔹21-Years-Old 🔹4-Year Starter
Love this pick! pic.twitter.com/a1GI4ARiwW
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) April 25, 2026 My only regret is having to wait til Monday to have Boston sports radio hosts explain why drafting Gabe Jacas, a team captain with 12 sacks, 13.5 TFLs and 50 career games was a bad pickpic.twitter.com/b7bNyKGpmE
— Jerry Thornton (@jerrythornton) April 25, 2026 Initial thoughts and film on Gabe Jacas, who might be as close to a perfect #Patriots match as there is in this draft 👇🏾
Q&A
Who is Gabe Jacas and what are his college stats?
Gabe Jacas is an edge rusher from Illinois who recorded 43 tackles, 11 sacks, and 13.5 tackles for loss last season.
What picks did the Patriots trade to draft Gabe Jacas?
The Patriots traded picks No. 63, 131, and 202 to the Los Angeles Chargers to move up and select Gabe Jacas.
What positions did the Patriots need to fill before drafting Jacas?
The Patriots needed to fill the edge rusher position, especially after losing K'Lavon Chaisson and releasing Anfernee Jennings.
How did social media react to the Patriots drafting Gabe Jacas?
Social media reactions were generally positive, highlighting Jacas's strength, aggression, and potential impact on the team.
