The New England Patriots are readying for the 2026 NFL Draft, and time is running short. The board will fall as it may, and holding the No. 31 overall pick, they'll have to adjust on the fly.
Regardless, there are several obvious imperatives for the Patriots next week. They need to bolster their sack-prevention and dial up their sack production on defense.
On that front, Karen Guregian of MassLive recently mocked a Day 2 pass rusher to the Patriots: edge Gabe Jacas of Illinois.
Certainly, edge and offensive tackle are the top two positions of need on the team, followed by inside linebacker and wide receiver, and then tight end and running back. There are a lot of holes to fill, and the Patriots have 11 picks with which to try to get the job done.
There's seldom an ideal solution in the draft because of how it falls in front of you. There's also some luck involved. If all the best offensive tackles are gone by No. 31, the Patriots should either pick an edge who's at that level or maybe trade down. It's a dynamic process that changes in real time.
The Patriots could address their pass rush with a smart second-round pick
Assuming that one of the top seven or so offensive tackles falls to pick No. 31, then taking an edge in the second round feels like the right move to make if one of value is on the board. Guregian believes Jacas may be just the fit the Patriots are looking for on the edge.
She could be spot on with Jacas, who checks a lot of boxes.
"With all of the positive buzz about Jacas recently, the Patriots might have to move up the board in the second round to get him," Guregian wrote. "In any case, with an offensive tackle taken in the first, edge rusher should be next on the docket. And whether a move is needed or not, Jacas would be a great get. He’s 6-foot-4, 260 pounds and breaks offensive linemen with his tenaciousness, strength and no-quit attitude. He’s good against the run, and if he gets into the backfield, he makes plays. In 2025, he led the Illini with 13 tackles for loss. He also had 11 sacks, and three forced fumbles."
Landing a top offensive tackle and then Jacas would be a solid start to a critical draft for the Patriots. Jacas is big enough to play with his hand in the dirt, and has long arms and big hands to fend off bigger offensive linemen. If the Patriots have filled their top need at tackle, and Jacas is available at pick No. 63 overall, he'd be a terrific choice.
The Patriots need finishers on defense who rack up sacks. Quarterback hits and pressures are overrated. They're helpful but don't finish plays. Jacas racked up 11 sacks in 2025, and that's exactly the type of edge the Patriots should be looking for.
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