The New England Patriots have traded up to select Illinois edge defender Gabe Jacas 55th overall in the NFL, trading No. 63, 131 and 202 overall for the Chargers' 55th selection. This follows a trade with Utah offensive player Caleb Lomu, who was traded for the 125th overall pick. Jacas, who ran a 4.69-second 40-yard dash at his pro day and is set to be a team captain in 2026, joins Harold Landry, Dre’Mont Jones, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson and Jesse Luketa on the Patriots’ edge defensive depth chart. The team is seeking more size and speed on the edge, with executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf stating the team was looking for more size, speed, and speed.