The Los Angeles Chargers have a number of clear-cut needs they must address in the early rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Offensive guard remains a serious priority. Although Cole Strange seems like the surefire starter at right guard, competition needs to be brought in for Trevor Penning on the left side. The defensive line also needs some help, and the first or second round would be the ideal place to secure that.
But where those two positions are on the Chargers' list of priorities likely depends on their pass-rusher plans. Although they were able to bring back Khalil Mack this offseason, their loss of Odafe Oweh leaves them with very little depth behind their two starting outside linebackers.
In an ideal world, the Chargers could trade back out of the first round and still grab both a guard and an edge rusher in the second.
Los Angeles was reported to have interest in Gabe Jacas out of Illinois, a pass rusher who has been projected as a second-round selection for most of this draft cycle. But a recent report by Jordan Reid at ESPN indicated significant buzz around Jacas as a potential Day 1 riser.
It's not a catastrophic development. But it's clear that the lone prospect that has been directly linked to Los Angeles may quickly become an unrealistic target.
Gabe Jacas may be a first-round prospect, but his rise would likely leave him out of reach for the Chargers
It's important to note that the Chargers don't necessarily need to come out of the draft with an edge rusher. There are still veteran pass rushers available in free agency who can serve as insurance policies if Los Angeles needs to take a different direction in the draft.
But if Jacas is available when Los Angeles selects at 55, he would be more than a worthy selection. Across 12 games in his senior season at Illinois, Jacas totaled 11 sacks and 41 total pressures, per Pro Football Focus. He has the fluidity and the refined pass-rushing skills to make an immediate impact alongside Mack and Tuipulotu.
At the time it was originally reported the Chargers could have serious interest in Jacas at 55, that draft range seemed reasonable. Reid, however, recently reported that there's significant monentum gathering around both Jacas and another pass-rusher, Malachi Lawrence out of UCF, as potential first-round picks.
"Edge rushers Gabe Jacas (Illinois) and Malachi Lawrence (UCF) are two names receiving a heavy amount of first-round buzz from scouts I have talked to... Jacas could be one of the biggest surprises on Day 1. Scouts pointed to his age (21 years old), heavy hands as a run defender and the flashes that he showed as a pass rusher en route to 11 sacks in 2025." Jordan Reid, ESPN
If the Chargers stay put at 22nd overall, opting not to trade back into the second round and accrue additional draft capital, it's likely their sights will be set on a more tantalizing prospect than Jacas. In that range, it's quite likely that T.J. Parker, Akheem Mesidor, or even Keldric Faulk could be available. There's also a chance Los Angeles opts to select one of the class's premier defensive tackles.
As intriguing of a prospect as Jacas is, his skill-set and upside makes him a bit of a reach at 22. Trading back into the second round would likely take them out of Jacas' range as well.
If he rises into the late first round, therefore, any link between him and the Chargers could quickly become a moot point.
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