2026 NFL DRAFT
PROSPECT PROFILE
GABE JACAS
EDGE, Illinois 6-4, 260
Strengths
- Excels at using his hands and agility to gain leverage
- Good array of moves including clubs, swipes and rips to keep his frame clean allowing him to get to his desired rush lane
- More power than speed but he does have enough agility and suddenness to flatten the edge and turn the corner
- Great motor. He just keeps coming at you
- Has the speed to power which shows up in his bull rush and his ability to stun the tackles off the line
- Versatility to line up wide or creep inside to give coordinators multiple looks
- Shows good backside pursuit to make plays laterally and past the LOS
Weaknesses
- Not the best edge setter in run defense. He can be to focused on getting up field to the QB
- Does not have elite bend to beat tackles with pure speed around the corner
- Can stick to blocks especially against the run
- Not a consistent tackler. Prefers to shoulder block instead of wrapping up
- Can play high at times losing the leverage battle
Gabe Jacas can and will be described as a power Edge defender, but his game is a little more nuanced than that. He shows a good array of hand fighting moves that allows him to stay clean and get to the edge. While he doesn’t have the pure speed to beat tackles off the snap and bend the edge, his hands allow him to gain leverage and flatten to the QB. When needed he has the raw power to get into an opponent’s chest and move him out of the way. He can be overly focused on pass rush which takes him out of the play by losing his lane integrity, but his constant motor keeps him going to make plays out of structure.
The draft range for Jacas is quite large. I have seen him be mocked anywhere from late first round to late second round, but I expect him to be an early second round player taken between 33-50. He has the versatility to be a power edge, but he has the rush tools to still threaten tackles around the outside. This gives him the versatility to line up wide or kick as far inside as a 4T alignment. I think he could fit with the Los Angeles Chargers, because he has enough rush ability to get around the edge to compliment the power of Mack and Tuli, but has the raw power to step in as a power edge defender as well. He could definitely be in play at 2.55 if the Chargers do not take an Edge player in Rd1.
