Gabe Jacas was the earliest Illinois football player picked in the 2026 NFL Draft, and now he has signed his rookie deal.
Jacas, a product of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was one of the top edge rushers heading into the NFL Draft, ranking in the top 10 in a multitude of different mock drafts. He was Bret Bielema's top prospect, and now he has officially found a home in Foxborough after signing his rookie contract.
According to Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report, Jacas has inked his rookie deal, which gives him a four-year, $8.6 million contract.
Sources: The #Patriots signed rookie OLB Gabe Jacas to a four-year, $8.6M contract.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 25, 2026
Big news as New England traded up to draft Jacas, the former All-American out of Illinois, in the 2nd-round. pic.twitter.com/iLm1VGXMUi
Jacas was a pivotal part of Illinois' defense from 2022 through 2025, recording 183 tackles and 27 sacks through 50 games with the program. He was one of the most dynamic defenders that Champaign had to offer, leading to Jacas being named to the All-Big Ten team three times.
In 2026, Jacas will join a Patriots pass rush that was rather mediocre, ranking No. 22 in sacks (35) and No. 19 in pass-rush win rate (35%) last season. They certainly could have used another dominant pass rusher to help take pressure off the secondary, and the newly acquired Jacas could end up turning into one.
The New England Patriots have four years to see what Gabe Jacas is made of
If you ask any fan of Illinois football, they will tell you that Jacas is a monster. They will sing the praises of the big man and remind you just how dominant he was when he donned the Orange and Blue.
Jacas was a freak of nature for the Illini, and he has a chance to continue that run with one of the most storied franchises in the NFL. The only problem is that he will need to tighten up a few things, such as his rush path, as well as his move-set to evade opposing tackles.
The man is a freak athlete who will use his brute strength to put linemen on their heels, forcing them to recover while backpedaling. Expect Mike Vrabel to build on that in these next four years, creating an ultimate force in the AFC East.
Add us as a preferred source on Google