6 numbers that explain Patriots draft picks Gabe Jacas and Eli Raridon

The New England Patriots acquired two new players on day two of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday night, selecting Illinois edge Gabe Jacas and Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon. New England traded up to No. 55 — sending picks No. 63, No. 131 and No. 202 — to draft Jacas before adding Raridon at No. 95.

The Illinois defensive captain was a freshman All-American in 2022 and later earned third-team All-American honors in 2024 and second-team All-Big Ten recognition in 2025. Jacas credits his background in wrestling for his prominent handwork and maneuvering skills, according to The Athletic.

Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said after the selection that the edge rusher was the highest-rated player on the team’s draft board Friday night.

“[Jacas’] play style is what we’re all about,” Wolf said. “Toughness, determination, grit. He plays a ton of snaps, he really plays hard, he’s super physical … The coaches were ecstatic when we were able to acquire him.”

On the other side of the ball, Raridon spent all four years of his collegiate career at Notre Dame, after being recruited by current Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. He accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl back in January.

The following six numbers may illustrate why New England selected Jacas and Raridon on day two:

Gabe Jacas

35.5 — Total tackles for loss: Jacas is one of the premier run-stopping edge defenders in the 2026 draft class. His play is defined by his aggressive, high-motor style, finishing through plays and fighting through blocks to fill gaps and bring down the ball carrier. The soon-to-be 22-year-old led the Fighting Illini in tackles for loss in each of the past two seasons, recording 13.5 in 2025 and 13 in 2024. He finished No. 9 in program history with 35.5 tackles for loss.

When speaking with the media after his selection, Jacas described his play style as “very disruptive, violent and dependable,” adding that he’s “going to bring the juice.”

Even though one of New England’s strengths in 2025 was its run defense, holding opposing teams to just 1,729 yards and a mere 11 touchdowns, adding another disruptive presence only bolsters a key area.

35 — Patriots’ total sacks in 2025: The Patriots struggled to consistently apply pressure and bring down the quarterback in the backfield last season, logging just 35 sacks on the year. That total was good for the seventh-lowest in the league.

Jacas routinely powers into the backfield with his aggressive style, which seemingly fits head coach Mike Vrabel’s defensive approach. The 6-foot-4, 261-pound edge rusher was highly productive as a pass rusher at Illinois, logging 27 career sacks, including team-leading totals in both 2024 and 2025. While he doesn’t possess elite top-end speed, his ability to generate power is a critical trait that should translate to the NFL.

59 — The combined age of Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones: New England’s top two pass rushers on the depth chart heading into 2026, Landry and free-agent signing Jones, will have a combined age of 59 years next season; Jones is 29, and Landry will be 30 in June.

The Patriots needed to add a younger pass rusher to the room who has the potential to contribute immediately, whether as an eventual starter or a rotational piece. Jacas offers youth and long-term upside, possibly developing into a frequent starter for the franchise.

Eli Raridon

30 — Visit with New England: Raridon has a lengthy and significant injury history, tearing the ACL in his right knee twice within a 10-month span. He suffered the initial tear during his senior year of high school, before suffering another injury during a practice at Notre Dame during his freshman year.

However, after being selected, Raridon said that he had a 30 visit with the team during the draft process. Wolf later confirmed this and mentioned the tight end underwent a medical evaluation, where the staff determined there were “no real concerns.”

Despite the injuries, the tight end remained healthy during his final two collegiate seasons with the Fighting Irish, playing in all 28 games. New England’s comfort level with Raridon’s current health status allows the franchise to add a quality player at a position of need.

32 — Receptions in 2025: Wolf added that Raridon has untapped potential, and draft analysts continue to point to the 22-year-old’s ability as a pass-catcher. After failing to produce at a high level in his first three collegiate seasons due to his injuries, Raridon registered 482 yards on 32 receptions. He has only three career drops relative to 48 career catches.

“[Raridon is] a one-year player [and] has overcome some serious injuries there at Notre Dame to really kind of find his own this year,” said Wolf. “You can see him sort of coming into his own as we went through the season. You could just see his confidence growing and growing throughout the year.”

Raridon was lettered in basketball in high school, earning second-team all-state honors as a junior forward. His background in the sport seems to translate well to the football field, as the 6-foot-6, 245-pound tight end has a large catch radius and makes seamless adjustments for his size when the ball is in the air.

31 — Hunter Henry’s age: While Henry had one of his best statistical regular seasons with the Patriots in 2025, recording 768 yards and seven touchdowns, he was an unreliable target in the postseason, catching just nine passes for 112 yards and one touchdown. The Patriots needed a young receiving tight end to pair with the veteran and step into Henry’s role when he retires, or the team moves on. New England may have just that with Raridon.