The Philadelphia Eagles spoke with Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas at the Senior Bowl and could target the Big Ten star in the 2026 NFL draft.
Illinois linebacker Gabe Jacas sacks Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles during the first half in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. The Eagles were well-represented last week at the Senior Bowl, where 100-plus of the top prospects in the 2026 class competed in front of NFL coaches and scouts.
PennLive was in Mobile, Ala., too, watching all three days of practice and interviewing many of those prospects. Over the next couple of weeks, we’re rolling out a series of stories on players we spoke to at the Senior Bowl who would make sense for the Eagles in the 2026 NFL draft.That doesn’t mean the Eagles are going to let Jaelan Phillips walk in free agency. It’s entirely possible that they’ll sign Phillips to an extension after trading for him at the deadline. But if the pending free agent leaves — and even if he stays — edge rusher is going to be a position of need for Roseman when the draft rolls around in April. And there’s a distinct possibility that the Eagles will pluck a rising star from last week’s Senior Bowl. Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas, one of the top performers in Mobile, Ala., is a potential fit for the Eagles in the second or third round. Jacas told PennLive he spoke to the Eagles’ representatives at the Senior Bowl. Prospects meet with most teams in Mobile and the NFL Combine, so that’s not a shock. But it would be fair if the Eagles’ interest grew after watching Jacas at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Jacas was that good at the Senior Bowl. The 6-foot-3 edge rusher showcased his versatility in varied fronts. And he was a demon off the edge, exploding off the line of scrimmage and using quick force to cause problems for offensive tackles all week. “I’m really good with my hands. I’m able to go speed to power all the time off the edge,” Jacas told PennLive. “Win with power. Win with speed. I can do both.”Jacas proved that at Illinois over the last two seasons. In 2024 and 2025, the All-Big Ten honoree recorded a combined 83 QB pressures, 19 sacks and six forced fumbles. He was especially good last year, leading the conference with 11 sacks. He closed his career at Illinois strong with 6 1/2 sacks in the Illini’s final four games of the regular season. Jacas’ playing weight at Illinois was around 275 pounds. But at the Senior Bowl, he weighed in at 260 pounds, and he looked good at the size. He said he’s willing and able to play “wherever coaches want me,” whether that’s in a 3-4 scheme or 4-3 front. That flexibility and production makes Jacas an intriguing prospect, not just for the Eagles but across the league. And yet, it’s a really deep edge rusher group, which means Jacas could fall into being a steal of the draft. Right now, Miami’s Rueben Bain and Texas Tech’s David Bailey are considered top-10 talents. Then there’s a host of edge rushers — Missouri’s Zion Young, Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, Clemson’s T.J. Parker and Miami’s Akheem Mesidor, to name a few — who are in the mid-to-late first-round to early second-round range.Mel Kiper Jr., Jordan Reid, Matt Miller and Steve Muench. But after his performance in Mobile, Jacas could rise into the fringe first-round conversation, per The Eagles will select No. 23 overall in the first round, No. 54 in the second round and Nos. 68 and 98 in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft. Whether Jacas is more of a first-round or third-round option will be determined in the months ahead. But the Eagles could use edge rusher help — and Jacas can provide it.Johnny covers the Philadelphia Eagles and Penn State football for PennLive. He has covered college football and Penn State professionally since 2016, with stops at the Centre Daily Times and Pittsburgh...
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