DRAFT Welcome to New England - Illinois Edge Gabe Jacas! (2nd round, #55)

PatsFan2 · Jul 15, 2026

KCSVEN said:
This will get worked out at some point.
It's clear the Patriots want protection against undisclosed injuries and that Jacas, based on recent workouts posted, is saying they don't need it, he's fine.
He doesn't want to participate, injure something, and lose his money if an injury happens. Pats don't want to guarantee against an injury for something they were unaware of.
Jacas has way more to lose than the Pats by signing a contract without injury protection, be interesting how they end up compromising but there is no benefit to either to not get it done.

To me it's a catch-22: If the guy played with a knee issue, a hamstring issue, a torn labrum shoulder and a foot stress fracture and is now healthy, then he should be much better than his tape which was already good. If some of those happened after the season and are a sign of a guy already breaking down, then not so good.

Did we Reach for Gabe Jacas a little?? There was a Run on EDGE early on in the Second; and Jacas was last EDGE taken in the Round Hmmmm.

p8ryts · Jul 15, 2026

PatsFan2 said:
Did we Reach for Gabe Jacas a little?? There was a Run on EDGE early on in the Second; and Jacas was last EDGE taken in the Round Hmmmm.

Sign your damn contract and get your a-- into camp.

PatsFan2 · Jul 15, 2026

p8ryts said:
Sign your damn contract and get your a-- into camp.

I hope Gabe Jacas understands that he was Drafted into a well run organization with lots of Great History. Start writing your own NFL journey; I hope his Agent ain't telling him...they need you; you don't need them.

moosekill · Jul 15, 2026

My guess is his agent is doing everything he can to make him the most money possible. There is no hurry for him to sign at this point up until training camp starts. If he isn't here when training camp starts I will be worried. Up until then everyone getting worked up is silly.

borisman · Jul 15, 2026

Camp is about 10 days away and we still don't know if he is healthy enough to participate. If we sign an Edge guy when camp starts that will be very telling. Not just because we don't know about Landry either.
And where is our linebacker and TE depth as well? TE definitely needs to be addressed.

n1997y · Jul 15, 2026

BennyBledsoe said:
Hm, seems the Patriots should be familiar with this dude.

I expect the Patriots have Jacas’ agent on speed dial, certainly hope so considering Christian Gonzalez is another of his clients.

Looks like that agent is big on getting guaranteed money for his clients. That might be key for Gonzo’s extension as well as for Jacas. Maybe the way to sign Gonzo is to offer less than over the top precedent setting top line dollars but strong guarantees and incentives?

As far as Jacas, it seems the medical situation is complicating the ask for guarantees. Expect he’ll be signed by camp though.

n1997y · Jul 15, 2026

borisman said:
Camp is about 10 days away and we still don't know if he is healthy enough to participate. If we sign an Edge guy when camp starts that will be very telling. Not just because we don't know about Landry either.
And where is our linebacker and TE depth as well? TE definitely needs to be addressed.

I think the question is not whether he is healthy enough to participate, it’s whether he is healthy enough to get his contract money guaranteed against future injury.

JoeSixPat · Jul 15, 2026

n1997y said:
I think the question is not whether he is healthy enough to participate, it’s whether he is healthy enough to get his contract money guaranteed against future injury.

Correct - and clearly we don't know the details, but the concerns are significant enough to where the Patriots haven't signed a particpation agreement for him, which would mean he gets the typical 2nd rounder salary even if he gets injured in camp before signing a contract.

So I'd have to say this is less of a Jacas issue on playing hardball and more of one in which the Patriots are concerned about his current or future health and thus, don't want to lock in with him just yet.

That participation agreement would likely be $8 million over 4 years, so while it doesn't break the bank, it's still not chump change for the Pats to commit to that (although maybe only Year 1 is guaranteed in the participation agreement - I'm not sure...)

Still, it's clear the Patriots have concerns about his health otherwise he'd have that agreement, pending a finalized contract and be out practicing. It may be that he's just not healthy enough to do that currently.

n1997y · Jul 15, 2026

JoeSixPat said:
Correct - and clearly we don't know the details, but the concerns are significant enough to where the Patriots haven't signed a particpation agreement for him, which would mean he gets the typical 2nd rounder salary even if he gets injured in camp before signing a contract.

So I'd have to say this is less of a Jacas issue on playing hardball and more of one in which the Patriots are concerned about his current or future health and thus, don't want to lock in with him just yet.

That participation agreement would likely be $8 million over 4 years, so while it doesn't break the bank, it's still not chump change for the Pats to commit to that (although maybe only Year 1 is guaranteed in the participation agreement - I'm not sure...)

Still, it's clear the Patriots have concerns about his health otherwise he'd have that agreement, pending a finalized contract and be out practicing. It may be that he's just not healthy enough to do that currently.

I’m also not sure, but I’m figuring it’s probably something like the Pats offering a participation agreement guaranteed for one year and his agent insisting it be guaranteed for the full four years. There’s no reason for his agent to budge on that, no upside if he does and lots of downside.

DoubleDeluxe · Jul 15, 2026

borisman said:
If we sign an Edge guy when camp starts that will be very telling. Not just because we don't know about Landry either.

I don't think signing another Edge would have anything to do with Jacas at all.
The desire to improve your roster is never ending, and thus why I've been pushing for Clowney for months.
Even if Landry is healthy, he's another year older and is definitely slowing down.
Jones has never been an elite pass rusher.
Ponder has potential, but he could just as easily flame out as go on to be a productive starter.
Even with everyone healthy, the edge group needs improvement.
Clowney would be our best situational pass rusher right out of the gate, and he's a very good run defender too.

TheRainMaker · Jul 15, 2026

Sign Clowney who played for Vrabel twice. I will be shocked if he isn't signed.

This edge group is pedestrian and Landry's snaps are going to continue to decrease.

DoubleDeluxe · Jul 15, 2026

TheRainMaker said:
Sign Clowney who played for Vrabel twice. I will be shocked if he isn't signed.

Man I hope so, I've hoped for his signing for a long while.

He is still a very productive situational Edge.

"Last year, Clowney didn't even sign with the Cowboys until Sept. 14. In 13 games, he finished with 8.5 sacks, 41 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and four passes batted -- all despite playing under 44% of Dallas' defensive snaps.

Pro Football Focus rated him as a top-20 EDGE with the 16th-best pass rush grade. Among nearly 200 players with at least 200 snaps as a pass rusher, Clowney ranked fourth(!) in pressure rate at 19.1%"

TheRainMaker · Jul 15, 2026

DoubleDeluxe said:
Man I hope so, I've hoped for his signing for a long while.

He is still a very productive situational Edge.

"Last year, Clowney didn't even sign with the Cowboys until Sept. 14. In 13 games, he finished with 8.5 sacks, 41 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and four passes batted -- all despite playing under 44% of Dallas' defensive snaps.

Pro Football Focus rated him as a top-20 EDGE with the 16th-best pass rush grade. Among nearly 200 players with at least 200 snaps as a pass rusher, Clowney ranked fourth(!) in pressure rate at 19.1%"

He's also by far the best edge defender against the run which was a major weakness last season.

JoeSixPat · Jul 15, 2026

DoubleDeluxe said:
Man I hope so, I've hoped for his signing for a long while.

He is still a very productive situational Edge.

"Last year, Clowney didn't even sign with the Cowboys until Sept. 14. In 13 games, he finished with 8.5 sacks, 41 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and four passes batted -- all despite playing under 44% of Dallas' defensive snaps.

Pro Football Focus rated him as a top-20 EDGE with the 16th-best pass rush grade. Among nearly 200 players with at least 200 snaps as a pass rusher, Clowney ranked fourth(!) in pressure rate at 19.1%"

I'd rather they signed Clowney than trade Boutte for Thibodeaux, who grades out lower than Clowney who of course is 33

I'm kindof hoping there's some handshake agreement between Vrabel and Clowney to bring him in later in camp, as Clowney, who I'm sure is staying in shape, really doesn't need to be in a long summer camp for any team to be productive - just healthy. I seem to recall BB signing veteran players who don't need as many camp snaps later in the summer too

I'm not sure what Clowney's price is - he knows there will be camp injuries and will I expect be signed by another team later in camp if not us.

DoubleDeluxe · Jul 15, 2026

JoeSixPat said:
I'd rather they signed Clowney than trade Boutte for Thibodeaux, who grades out lower than Clowney who of course is 33

I'm kindof hoping there's some handshake agreement between Vrabel and Clowney to bring him in later in camp, as Clowney, who I'm sure is staying in shape, really doesn't need to be in a long summer camp for any team to be productive - just healthy. I seem to recall BB signing veteran players who don't need as many camp snaps later in the summer too

I'm not sure what Clowney's price is - he knows there will be camp injuries and will I expect be signed by another team later in camp if not us.

Yup, I'm sure he's waiting on purpose, he will have suitors no doubt.
Price.....1 year $6M maybe depending on the desperation of the team. Could be slightly less, could be more

DoubleDeluxe · Jul 15, 2026

TheRainMaker said:
He's also by far the best edge defender against the run which was a major weakness last season.

Yup, a very good player in both phases.
As long as his snaps are managed, he would be a very productive signing.

captain stone · Jul 16, 2026

Uptown said:

Don't succumb to these mother****ers, Eliot. Show a ****ing spine. For once.

KCSVEN · Jul 16, 2026

PatsFan2 said:
Did we Reach for Gabe Jacas a little?? There was a Run on EDGE early on in the Second; and Jacas was last EDGE taken in the Round Hmmmm.

I'd say 100% not.

He was drafted 55 overall.

The Ringer (Todd McShay's Profile): Ranked Jacas as the No. 42 overall prospect and the No. 9 Edge rusher in the draft class, giving him an 85/100 overall draft grade.
The Ringer (2026 Draft Guide): Listed Jacas slightly lower at No. 44 overall on their cumulative Big Board, praising his power-rushing style and comparing him to Preston Smith.
Pro Football Focus (PFF): Ranked the 270-pound outside linebacker as the No. 51 overall prospect in the 2026 draft class.
StormCloud Draft Profile: Ranked Jacas as their No. 3 Edge rusher and cited his pre-draft consensus ranking as high as No. 31 overall.
WalterFootball: Did not assign a specific overall number but projected him as a high-value second-round pick. They highlighted him as one of the best value picks and a "sleeper steal" of the draft, comparing his playstyle to Bradley Chubb.
General Mock Draft Consensus: Across various mock drafts and fan boards, Jacas was widely projected to be taken anywhere from the late first round (around No. 31) to the middle of the second round.

PatsFan2 · Jul 16, 2026

KCSVEN said:
I'd say 100% not.

He was drafted 55 overall.

The Ringer (Todd McShay's Profile): Ranked Jacas as the No. 42 overall prospect and the No. 9 Edge rusher in the draft class, giving him an 85/100 overall draft grade.

The Ringer (2026 Draft Guide): Listed Jacas slightly lower at No. 44 overall on their cumulative Big Board, praising his power-rushing style and comparing him to Preston Smith.

Pro Football Focus (PFF): Ranked the 270-pound outside linebacker as the No. 51 overall prospect in the 2026 draft class.

StormCloud Draft Profile: Ranked Jacas as their No. 3 Edge rusher and cited his pre-draft consensus ranking as high as No. 31 overall.

WalterFootball: Did not assign a specific overall number but projected him as a high-value second-round pick. They highlighted him as one of the best value picks and a "sleeper steal" of the draft, comparing his playstyle to Bradley Chubb.

General Mock Draft Consensus: Across various mock drafts and fan boards, Jacas was widely projected to be taken anywhere from the late first round (around No. 31) to the middle of the second round.

Nice insight hopefully he's not damaged goods; here's hoping he's better than the overrated Bradley Chubb.

KCSVEN · Jul 16, 2026

PatsFan2 said:
Nice insight hopefully he's not damaged goods; here's hoping he's better than the overrated Bradley Chubb.

I’m mildly concerned with the non disclosed injury
Some guys are physically broken coming out of college. I see no solid evidence that’s the case here but is a concern.
Need to get the guy on the field and see what he’s got.

DRAFT Welcome to New England - Illinois Edge Gabe Jacas! (2nd round, #55)

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