When reflecting on his first NFL training camp, one word kept coming to Gabe Jacas’ mind: learn.
“It was good. I learned a lot. I met a lot of people, a lot of people that helped me along the way,” he said. “It was good for sure, and definitely a good learning experience for me.”
Jacas’ learning curve has been a little steeper than most rookies. The edge rusher, whom the Patriots traded up to select out of Illinois with the 55th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, wasn’t with the team during OTAs or minicamp and missed the start of training camp due to a contract dispute. He was playing catch-up from the moment he arrived, and that showed throughout the Patriots’ three preseason games.
The 22-year-old struggled on read-option plays, was occasionally too aggressive in his pursuit upfield and, at times, had trouble setting the edge. For a rookie, though, those are coachable mistakes that should improve with more reps and experience.
“Obviously, the NFL is a lot different type of ball game. So just learning the speed of the game,” Jacas said. “As a rookie going to your first training camp, it’s all about learning. Having those reps and getting those experiences. Now the season is about to start, and it’s about utilizing what you learned and going out there and doing what you’re supposed to do.”
Still, Jacas’ intensity, aggression, speed and violence are evident every time he takes the field. That, coupled with his willingness to learn, is why his coaches and teammates believe in his potential.
“I think that the effort is certainly there. The willingness. He is a very coachable player,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “I think he will just continue to improve because he has that type of attitude, and he is willing.”
Defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr used the same word: willing.
“He’s continuing to work on the fundamentals. He’s got to really focus on the technique and the fundamentals from ground one. But he’s willing,” Kuhr said. “He’s a great, great kid. He works his ass off. He’s physical, he’s violent. So he’s fun to coach, he’s fun to be around.”
The talent is there for Jacas. He started all 12 regular-season games at Illinois last season, recording 43 tackles, including 23 solo stops, 13.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, six quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and one pass breakup while earning All-Big Ten honors. His 11 sacks led the Big Ten and ranked sixth nationally during the regular season.
The missed time at the start of the offseason inevitably created a hurdle, one Jacas has been working to overcome ever since.
“He is studying his butt off. He’s doing all the right stuff. And he’s getting better every week. This kid is going to be a special player. I don’t think very many coaches say that right off the bat, where a guy’s going to be here for three weeks, he’s going to be a special player,” outside linebackers coach Mike Smith said.
“If you’ve got a kid that’s big like him, that’s athletic like him, that’s meaner than a wet mule, and he loves football – Not going to say he’s going to be Jason Taylor or LT or any of that stuff, but it’s going to be very hard for him to fail. And so I know who the kid is and what he wants to be, and he’s going to work at it to be that. So I’m excited to have him and excited to work with him every day. Glad he’s here.”
Jacas has made a similar impression on his teammates, particularly the other edge rushers on the team.
“Great guy. Cool dude. Loves football, you could tell on and off the field,” Elijah Ponder said. “He’s an aggressive football player. He pays attention to details, picks up on things fast. Can’t wait to see what he brings to the team.”
Added Dre’Mont Jones, “Gabe is an eager guy. Willing to learn. Always has his head in his book. Always studying, always asking questions. He’s somebody who’s out there trying every day and giving it effort. He’s getting better and better with every week. He’s just doing a good job.”
Jacas, although still a work in progress, projects as a rotational option behind Jones and Ponder on the depth chart. When those opportunities come, the messaging from the coaching staff is simple.
“Just play fast, play physical,” Jacas relayed. “Just use my strengths to my advantage, and just having the knowledge and knowing what to do, and having the power to utilize what God has given me.”
