Could the Carolina Panthers land this talented pass rusher?
The Carolina Panthers may have signed Jaelan Phillips to a wildly expensive contract in free agency, but they could still use some pass-rushing help.
The Panthers totaled just 30 sacks in 2025, and while youngsters like Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen could take a big step in their sophomore seasons next year, it would still behoove Carolina to take another edge rusher in the NFL Draft.
In a recent mock draft from Chad Reuter of NFL.com, the Panthers were projected to land a massive sleeper in Illinois star Gabe Jacas with their third-round pick.
Jacas is one of the most underrated pass rushers in this year's draft class.
The 21-year-old is coming off of a brilliant final collegiate campaign in which he racked up 43 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles.
While it represented the best season of Jacas' NCAA tenure, it certainly wasn't his only productive year.
In fact, Jacas produced from the moment he arrived at Illinois in 2022, registering 35 tackles, five tackles for loss and four sacks during his freshman campaign.
Gabe Jacas. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.Overall, the Port Saint Lucie, Fl. native amassed 27 sacks throughout his time with the Fighting Illini, a very impressive number, especially for a player who isn't getting quite enough attention heading into the draft.
Jacas even earned a comparison to Matthew Judon from NFL.com, which is definitely flattering considering how good Judon was in his prime.
At 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, Jacas possesses ideal size for the edge rusher position, and while his athleticism may not be off the charts, he is very well-rounded and seems above average in terms of power.
Carolina selected both Scourton and Umanmielen last spring, and while the former put forth a decent showing in 2025, neither player aided the Panthers' pass rush like Dan Morgan and Co. initially hoped.
Phillips was a splashy signing, but even he only managed five sacks this past season. Plus, he has an extensive injury history, so there is no guarantee he is going to be incredibly fruitful for Carolina next fall.
The Panthers should absolutely be aiming to take another pass rusher, and nabbing Jacas in Round 3 would be tremendous if he is still on the board at No. 83.
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