Patriots Rookie Edge Rusher Will Tout Mike Vrabel's Number Year 1

Patriots Rookie Edge Rusher Will Tout Mike Vrabel's Number Year 1 originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . With the 55th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots picked edge rusher Gabe Jacas out of Illinois.

I believe landing Jacas in the latter half of the second round is one of the best value picks of the entire weekend. The 21-year-old had an amazing collegiate career. As a 17-year-old freshman, Jacas recorded four sacks for the Illini.

He followed that season with another four sack performance as a sophomore, before doubling the number in his junior season. Still only 20-years-old, Jacas elected to stay for his senior year, and it paid off in the form of an 11 sack, 13. 5 TFL season.

I would have been happy to land this player in the first, so taking him 55th was a steal. Clearly, head coach Mike Vrabel and the Patriots staff feel the same way, as they have bestowed the head coach's Super Bowl-winning jersey number on their second-round pick. DRAFT CLASS NUMBERS 🚨 pic.