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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The New England Patriots had one of the best defenses in the league last season under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel. New England allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards (101.7 per game) and the fourth-fewest points (18.8). That, along with a balanced offense headlined by quarterback Drake Maye, led the Patriots to a 14-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance. Vrabel, a former All-Pro linebacker with the Patriots, made sure defense was part of the team's identity, and it paid off.
So when the 2026 NFL Draft rolled around, it wasn't entirely surprising to see New England land one of the best edge rushers in the class: Gabe Jacas, whom the Patriots selected in the second round (No. 55 overall). However, he didn't sign his rookie contract until two days into training camp due to a dispute over a pre-existing knee injury and an unusual injury waiver that protects the team if his knee isn't healthy over the next three seasons.
Jacas underwent a clean-up procedure on his left knee this offseason following pre-existing concerns flagged during the draft process. He sat out rookie minicamp, OTAs and mandatory minicamp while rehabbing from the injury and remaining unsigned.
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But on Tuesday, he addressed the situation for the first time, speaking with reporters. "First and foremost, I just want to say how grateful I am to be here," Jacas said. "It was a long journey, but I'm just glad to be part of this organization. It's a blessing to be at practice and run around."
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Jacas is coming off a successful four-year college career at Illinois. During his senior season in 2025, he racked up 43 combined tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles across 12 games, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. The year prior, he earned third-team All-American honors after producing 78 combined tackles, 13 tackles for loss, eight sacks and three forced fumbles across 13 games.
At 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, he has the size and length to be an elite pass rusher at the NFL level, drawing comparisons to former Patriots Pro Bowler Matthew Judon during the pre-draft process. Now that the contract and injury drama are behind him, Jacas has rejoined the team and is gearing up to make an immediate impact for New England in 2026.
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