Getty

NFL Draft guru Todd McShay compared Illinois DE Gabe Jacas to Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson

The New England Patriots selected a dynamic defensive player in the second round of the NFL draft. The reviews on Gabe Jacas are positive. However, a college football legend has a question regarding his game. Nick Saban posed a question on Friday about the defender’s abilities.

Jacas is coming off a season that saw him record 43 combined tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss in addition to 11 sacks. He averaged 3.58 combined tackles per game on the season, and 1.92 solo tackles on the year. Jacas was a productive player for an Illinois team that has prided itself on defense.

Saban Weighs In on Patriots Rookie

Saban likes what the Patriots did with the draft pick. Howevwwer, he still has one particular question about Jacas, as he told ESPN’s Mike Reiss earlier this week.

“I think Gabe is a really good edge guy,” Saban said, “This guy is a relentless competitor in terms of the way he plays, with effort and toughness. Does he play outside ‘backer or defensive end? That’s the question.”

Jacas could certainly fit the mold of either the defensive end or linebacker. He has strong tackling ability, as evidenced by his play in the Big Ten. He recorded 183 tackles over four seasons. This included 74 tackles and 2024. He also had seven forced fumbles over the course of his career, making him a strong candidate for any sort of linebacker position. His ability to hunt and find the football is one of his strengths.

Jacas Could Find Success On The Edge

Jacas would probably be best suited as an edge player for the Patriots. The Patriots need edge production for multiple reasons. Perhaps the biggest one is the departure of K’Lavon Chiasson to the Washington Commanders. The Patriots quickly got to work in free agency, signing Baltimore Ravens end Dre’Mont Jones. However, it seems like this was a clear focus during the draft as well. They added Boston College defensive end Quintayvious Hutchins to help on the edge as well.

It’s not as if they didn’t get production from the edge position. Harold Landry III had 8.5 sacks on the season. Chiasson had 7.5 sacks during the regular season, and Elijah Ponder had four sacks on the ceiling. Anfernee Jennings, who most recently signed with the New Orleans Saints, finished with two. With that being said, the Patriots only recorded 35 sacks as a team. 22 of them came from the edge. Both Chiasson and Jennings are now gone, leaving big holes to fill. Jacas can be the guy to help fill the void.

Saban’s comments certainly are not outlandish. Jacas could be that type of player and could fit into that hybrid mold well, given his skill set. However, one has to think that the edge is where he will shine the most. This will certainly be interesting to see over the course of training camp. Jacas’s raw athleticism and overall speed certainly give him the flexibility to be able to move positions.

The Patriots already have a solid base of defenders, and versatility and depth were key elements that helped the team get to the Super Bowl. It will be intriguing to see how he fits into his defense, and how often the Patriots utilize him in his rookie season. One has to think he will see the field quite a bit.