With Boye Mafe departing in free agency, DeMarcus Lawrence entering his age-34 season and Uchenna Nwosu heading into his age-30 season, many expect the Seattle Seahawks to target an edge rusher at some point in this month’s NFL Draft.
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One intriguing option is 6-foot-4, 260-pound Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas, who was highlighted in former NFL quarterback Brock Huard‘s annual Seahawks draft profile series Wednesday on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk.
Jacas, ranked by ESPN as the No. 7 edge rusher and the No. 44 overall prospect in this year’s draft class, totaled 27 sacks and seven forced fumbles as a four-year starter at Illinois. But as Huard noted, he’s also highly regarded for his ability to set the edge and stop the run – particularly vital traits for edge rushers in Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald’s defense.
A recent ESPN mock draft projected Jacas to the New England Patriots at No. 63 overall – one spot ahead of Seattle’s No. 64 overall pick.
“This is the most rugged defensive end in this draft,” Huard said. “… This is a total edge setter. (He has) 33-inch arms and 10-inch massive hands – just meat claws. He gets on you and he sets an edge and stops to run.”
Gabe Jacas continues to be a menace for opposing QBs 💪 @IlliniFootball#B1GFootball on CBS 📺 pic.twitter.com/5C2Rn1RDE9
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 26, 2024
In addition to his prowess as a run defender, Jacas’ pass-rushing production steadily increased during his college career.
After posting 4.0 sacks in each of his first two college seasons, Jacas recorded 8.0 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in 2024. He then had 11.0 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in 2025, finishing tied for the ninth-most sacks in the FBS last fall.
“I like these guys (that) are high on production and high on experience,” Huard said. “This guy is high on both of those as well.”
Jacas, who was a two-time high school wrestling state champion in Florida, would add more size to a Seahawks edge-rushing corps that’s headlined by 6-foot-3, 260-pound Derick Hall, the 6-foot-3, 254-pound Lawrence and the 6-foot-2, 265-pound Nwosu.
“You want to add a little different dude in this mix?” Huard said. “Because he’s bigger than Uchenna. He’s bigger than Boye and Derick Hall. He’s different than DeMarcus Lawrence. DeMarcus is a Ferrari (with his) long arms and fluidity. (Jacas) is just raw and rugged and played a lot of ball.
“He would come into that room and fit in pretty well.”
Seattle Seahawks offseason coverage
• Huard’s Seahawks NFL Draft Profile: ‘The toughest dude in the draft’
• Bump: A veteran edge rusher Seattle Seahawks could still add
• ESPN’s Schrager: Seattle Seahawks’ roster is still ‘loaded’
• ’26 vs ’14: Comparing Seahawks’ post-Super Bowl roster turnover
• Mock Draft Roundup: Who will Seattle Seahawks take in 1st round?