As Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft got underway, the New England Patriots started to feel antsy. Pick by pick, edge rusher after edge rusher came off the board.
Pretty soon, New England couldn't wait any longer. The Patriots traded up to pick no. 55 overall in order to address the other side of the trenches, just a day after going with offensive tackle Caleb Lomu in Round 1.
At that 55th pick overall, the Patriots snagged Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas, who might have been the very last starting-caliber pass rusher on the board. But that doesn't mean he's automatically the least of the bunch.
FanSided's own draft expert, Mike Luciano, gave Pats fans an inside look at what to expect out of their new defensive weapon.
"Jacas, a former champion wrestler, is a throwback defensive end who is all about power and setting the edge. Jacas' ferocity and consistency will get him picked high, but he may not be able to reach a Pro Bowl ceiling unless he can start to show he can beat NFL-level athletes consistently with pure speed."
The New England Patriots' defense just got injected with pure adrenaline thanks to the Gabe Jacas pick
If you watch Jacas on film, you see a player with a ridiculous motor and a mean streak. Jacas is a thick, strong pass rusher with a violent playing style. He'll give some Patriots fans an old-school type of feeling.
Jacas adds even more physicality to this defense. As a former elite wrestler, it makes perfect sense that he'd be a strong, violent player who sets the edge well. And, he played in the Big Ten, where you know there's a history of those mean and nasty types up front.
To say that several teams' fan bases hoped Jacas would fall a little further would be an understatement, as he was seen by many as an immediate-impact player. He might not be a David Bailey or Rueben Bain, but Jacas will wind up being a guy who is on the field a lot, whether or not he's technically a starter.
Over the last two years, Jacas has totaled 26.5 tackles for loss and 19.0 sacks. He's also forced six fumbles.
So, the Patriots got themselves a wrestler that has a nose for the football. And we love it.
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