The New England Patriots have made their second pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. After addressing offensive tackle in Round 1, they added to their defensive edge in Round 2.
Following a trade up with the Chargers, the Patriots selected Gabe Jacas out of Illinois with the 55th overall selection.
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In order to move up, the Patriots invested the 63rd overall pick as well as picks No. 131 and No. 202 in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively.
Jacas, 21, spent his entire four-year career at Illinois. A starter from his freshman season on, he amassed 50 in-game appearances with 43 starts as well as 183 tackles and 27 sacks. A two-time All-Big Ten selection — second team in 2025, third team in 2024 — he is joining an experienced edge rotation in New England.
The Patriots entered the draft with veterans Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones as their starters. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Jacas is unlikely to push one of them down the depth chart, but despite his relative youth adds a ready-made piece to the rotation.
With Jacas in the fold following the Patriots’ second trade-up, the team has six selections left in this year’s draft. The next will come at No. 95 in the third round.