Top second-round prospect just piqued the interest of Dennis Allen — but his workout showing might have put him out of Chicago’s range
Illinois defensive end Gabe Jacas just answered a very important question at his private workout and other teams might try to poach him ahead of the Chicago Bears’ two second-round picks.
Earlier this week, we heard from Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson at the NFL Annual Meeting and the team’s top two decision-makers seem to be aligned with what the team should do with the 25th overall pick.
“We want to stay disciplined in our approach. As we get to this draft, it’s taking the best available,” Poles explained. “There’s going to be some needs that hopefully line up. We always hope that that lines up, but sometimes it doesn’t, but you can’t be wrong with continuing to add good football players to your football team.”
Simply put, the Bears aren’t going to force a need in the first-round just to force a need. Something that comes into play when considering the top offensive tackles, edge rushers, and safeties the Bears could be looking at.
After the first-round, however, it’s fair game. The Bears have two selections in the second-round (57 and 60) to add more starting-caliber players to the roster and the second-round could be where the Bears look to acquire a new rookie pass rusher.
The top name to watch, in my opinion, is Illinois’ Gabe Jacas who just answered a very important question during his private workout on Thursday.
Gabe Jacas continues to be the perfect DE prospect for Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen
Jacas was already the ideal second-round fit for what Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen looks for in his edge rushers from a size/frame standpoint. The question is what kind of speed Jacas has after not getting to see him perform at the NFL Combine and the Illinois Pro Day.
During his private workout on Thursday, Jacas solidified himself as the perfect prospect for the Bears to watch in the second-round. According to draft expert Dane Brugler, Jacas ran a 4.69 40-yard-dash with a 1.59 10-yard split.
Here’s why that second number is notable based on the previous edge rushers drafted by Dennis Allen during his time with the New Orleans Saints.
- Trey Hendrickson – 1.59 10-yard split
- Marcus Davenport – 1.62 10-yard split
- Payton Turner – 1.67 10-yard split
- Isaiah Foskey – 1.66 10-yard split
This is clearly a drill Allen watches for and uses to evaluate his potential edge rushers. The 10-yard split is a good indicator of a pass rushers explosiveness and short-yard speed. Jacas nailed that drill with a 1.59 time. The problem is, other teams saw the same thing.
It’s now very likely another team poaches Gabe Jacas before the 57th overall pick in the second-round
In my latest seven-round mock draft released on Monday, I had the Bears selecting Jacas with the 57th overall pick in the second-round. That was obviously before this impressive workout performance by the Illinois pass rusher.
Teams in the top-mid second-round range in need of a pass rusher now have Jacas’ name circled on the board after that kind of showing.
According to the A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database, Jacas already had an ADP of 54.68, a number that will only increase over the next few days. If the Bears ID Jacas as a top second-round target, they might have to move up to get him.
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