Sixth round, 180th pick â LB Curtis JacobsÂ
The Patriots need some linebacker depth, but there isnât a whole lot of linebacker talent in this class. Talent will be thin on the ground by the time the Patriots fill their biggest needs. Jacobs could be a late-round treasure, though.
Heâs a good athlete; his RAS is 8.43 out of 10, and he has elite speed (he ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at the combine). Thatâs one thing the Patriots linebacking corps could use, they already have plenty of size.Â
Jacobs played 42 games at Penn State, recording 171 tackles. He also had 24 tackles for a loss. 9.5 sacks and two interceptions. Jacobs also forced a fumble and recovered four fumbles. Â
Heâs an all-action, dynamic defender, but he has some technique issues that need ironing out. Jerod Mayo and Dontâa Hightower are just the coaches who can do that, though. Â
Back in June 2023, it was reported that one AFC GM suggested Jacobs could be a top-five pick in the draft. Thatâs all but impossible now with the emergence of the 2024 quarterback class. It seems likely Jacobs will be a fifth-round pick, but in the best-case scenario, he falls to the Patriots early in the sixth. Â
