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5 things to know about Patriots second-round pick Gabe Jacas
Jacas models his game after a former Patriots Pro Bowler.
Generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks was a struggle for the Patriots at times in 2025. New England made a move to help address that need Friday night.
The Patriots traded up to take Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas.
New England finished in a three-way tie for 31st in the league in hurries. They were 22nd in sacks. They sacked Sam Darnold just once in the Super Bowl.
K’Lavon Chaisson has since moved on and signed with the Commanders. Anfernee Jennings was released. Harold Landry is coming off of a knee injury that slowed him down at the end of the year.
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The Patriots signed Dre’Mont Jones in free agency, and now they’ve drafted Jacas. Here are five things to know about the Patriots’ second-round pick:
He models his game after Matthew Judon.
There were several Patriots connections on the Illinois coaching staff while Jacas was there.
Joe Kim, a former Patriots pass-rush consultant is now a skill development coordinator for the Illini. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema had a brief stint on Bill Belichick’s Patriots staff. Former Patriots running back James White is the assistant running backs coach.
Jacas said his connections with Kim, along with his play-style, led him to model his game after former Patriots pass-rusher Matthew Judon. Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler, had two of his best seasons with the Patriots notching 12.5 sacks in 2021 and 15.5 in 2022.
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“There are so many similarities to my game and his, and I can’t wait to just continue to get better and to continue to be a proceeding edge rusher,” Jacas said. “And that’s someone I can model my game after. Someone that used to be at the Patriots.”
“Speed-to-power guy, able to use his hands well, able to work, edge moves and power moves,” Jacas added. “And you can just tell that Joe Kim definitely had a big part in that as well. It’s funny because I talked to him, I think, last year before my senior year, and just hearing his mind and his approach to the game really helped a lot.”
NFL.com also listed Judon as Jacas’s NFL player comparison.
He’s second all-time in sacks at Illinois.
Jacas compiled 27 sacks over four years at Illinois, putting him second on the school’s all-time list behind three-time Pro Bowler Simeon Rice.
He made 11 of those sacks this past season, landing him sixth in the nation in Division I. Jacas was a team captain at Illinois, and according to The Athletic, teammates describe him as a “workaholic.”
“Just playing with a relentless motor. Very disruptive, very violent,” Jacas said when asked to describe his game. “Someone that’s very dependable, someone that’s going to bring the energy and the juice to the team. And someone that’s just all around, just an all-out motor player and someone that they can just look forward to see playing. That’s the player they can expect.”
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At 6-feet-3 inches and 275 pounds, he’s a big, strong, powerful prospect. There have been some concerns about his ability to stop outside runs, but his pass-rush skills made him stand out at the college level.
His family immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica.
Jacas spent his early years in Port St. Lucie, Florida, but his mother was born in Jamaica. He’s a first-generation U.S. citizen.
He said his family were all avid gardeners. His mother, Paula Henry, told Big Ten Network that she grew nine mango trees in the family’s backyard as a tribute to Jamaica.
He credited his older brother with helping his transition from offensive line to defensive end in high school.
“My family, my siblings, and obviously my mother constantly motivate me to be the best because they always helped me out growing up,” Jacas said. “I just want to make them proud.
He was a state champion wrestler in high school.
Jacas was a two-time state wrestling champion in high school and says the sport helped with his football development.
“I wrestled for four years in high school,” Jacas said. “Being low, having leverage, using your hands, fighting, those all keyed into football. Wrestling has a lot of trade-over into football, especially with hand fighting.”
“Especially at this position on the edge, you’ve got to use your hands effectively, and that’s one thing that I carried over the most with is being able to use my hands efficiently and effectively,” he added. “So, everyone knows me as a football player, but wrestling had a big part in that as well.”
He was impressed by Patriots outside linebackers coach Mike Smith.
Jacas said the Patriots were his favorite pre-draft top-30 visit. He came away impressed by the coaching staff, especially his new position coach Mike Smith.
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Smith was a seventh-round pick for the Ravens in 2005 before he embarked on his coaching career. His previous coaching stops include Minnesota and Green Bay. Danielle Hunter and ZaDarius Smith both made the Pro Bowl during Smith’s time coaching them in Minnesota.
“Just his philosophy and his mindset on just the position,” Jacas said. “I just loved it, and I knew this team, if they were to get me, was going to be the right fit for me. So I’m just blessed that they gave me a chance, and they came and got me when they did. So all glory to God, and I’m ready to start as soon as possible.”
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