New England Patriots rookie linebacker Gabe Jacas is making an immediate impact on the field through the first three weeks of the season.
According to Pro Football Focus (via CLNS’ Taylor Kyles), Jacas ranks fifth among all edge rushers in the NFL in run-stop rate this season at 12.8 percent.
Jacas has quickly established himself as a disruptive presence against the run, using his exceptional upper-body strength and relentless pursuit to create stops near the line of scrimmage. His early production has given New England an encouraging young defender who looks the part of a No. 55 overall pick, which the Patriots used on him in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jacas’ ability to close on ball carriers has helped him stand out in a league where edge rushers are
often measured primarily by sacks and quarterback pressures. The run-stop metric highlights a dimension of his game that might prove useful, not only toward him earning even more snaps but also against elite running backs who love to cut to the outside.
That skill set could come in handy against Buffalo Bills running back James Cook in Week 4, New York Jets' Breece Hall in Week 6 and Kansas City Chiefs' Kenneth Walker III in Week 15.
While Jacas still faces the challenge of maintaining his production over the course of the entire year, his early ranking offers a promising sign for New England’s defense and its long-term plans at edge rusher.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots rookie defender is already top-five in one key category
