New England traded up to select Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas in Round 2, and the pick signals a clear pass-rush direction. Here are five things to know.
The New England Patriots used a rare trade-up in Round 2 to land Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas, and the move says a lot about what the team wants next.
New England’s pressure numbers have been a recurring issue. with the Patriots finishing in a three-way tie for 31st in the NFL in hurries and ranking 22nd in sacks.. In the postseason, the pattern was even more striking: New England sacked Sam Darnold just once in the Super Bowl.. Since then. the roster has continued to change—K’Lavon Chaisson has moved on to the Commanders. Anfernee Jennings was released. and Harold Landry has been slowed by a knee injury late in the year.. Add free-agent Dre’Mont Jones to the mix. and drafting Jacas looks like the next step in a broader effort to rebuild consistent quarterback disruption.
1) Jacas is trying to play like Matthew Judon
Jacas’ description is telling: he sees himself as a speed-to-power edge rusher who uses his hands to win early. then follows with an array of edge and power moves.. He also pointed to Joe Kim—an Illinois skill development coordinator with Patriots ties—as a major reason he gravitated toward Judon’s style.. If Jacas translates that mindset, Patriots fans may recognize a familiar football identity: relentless, technique-driven pressure rather than one-note athleticism.
2) He’s produced at Illinois—27 sacks and counting
The game tape context pairs with leadership traits, too.. Jacas was a team captain at Illinois. and teammates have described him as a “workaholic. ” suggesting the kind of daily effort coaches love when a rookie is expected to learn quickly at the NFL level.. At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds. he also fits the modern edge mold—tall enough to challenge tackles. heavy enough to leverage power rushes.
3) His motor is the calling card—and it’s supposed to be violent
Those words align with what the Patriots have been hunting: an edge presence that can create impact beyond the stat sheet—batting down lanes. forcing quarterbacks to hitch. and turning broken pass protection into hurried throws.. In the NFL. “pressure” is often more than sacks; it’s whether quarterbacks feel late. whether routes slow down. and whether the pocket collapses in a way that affects timing.
4) Strength and hand work are built in—wrestling helped
For edge rushers. that translates into a practical skill: using your hands efficiently to control space before speed—or power—takes over.. Jacas believes that advantage shows up in how he approaches matchups. particularly at the “trade” point where blockers try to slow down the first move.. There are also questions—some have wondered about his ability to stop outside runs—but his pass-rush production is part of why he stood out in the first place.
5) The pick is also about culture. coaching. and identity
Those details matter in a team-building way, even when they don’t show up on the box score.. Rookies tend to learn faster when they’re grounded. and Jacas’ background suggests a strong support system and a drive to “make them proud.” He also said Patriots outside linebackers coach Mike Smith impressed him on his top-30 visit.. Smith has a long coaching history. including stops in Minnesota and Green Bay. and Jacas said he liked Smith’s philosophy and mindset for the position.
This is where the trade-up becomes more than just a roster move.. The Patriots are clearly trying to tighten the relationship between coaching instruction and edge identity.. If Jacas is being asked to operate in a role similar to how the Patriots once used Judon—paired with a developmental path shaped by coaching familiarity—that could help reduce the typical rookie learning curve.
And for New England, the timing is crucial.. Fans don’t just want “potential.” They want pressure that shows up in November and carries into January—especially after injuries and roster churn have made the last few seasons feel inconsistent.. Jacas’ blend of production, technique focus, and coach-to-player fit gives the Patriots a plausible runway to build that consistency.
In the end, the real question isn’t whether Jacas can get after the quarterback at Illinois—it’s whether his approach can hold up against NFL offensive tackles, and whether New England can turn his traits into repeatable sack and hurry production.