Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots showed extensive interest in more than 140 draft prospects this offseason, and several of them touched base with the team on more than one occasion. Tops among them, however, was Khalil Jacobs: after speaking with the Patriots at his pro day and virtually, he also visited Gillette Stadium shortly before the draft.
The multiple contact points did not result in Jacobs getting drafted, but they did set the stage for him joining the Patriots as a rookie free agent a short time later.
Name: Khalil Jacobs
Position: Off-ball linebacker
Jersey number: 59
Opening day age: 22 (12/1/2003)
Measurements: 6’1”, 227 lbs, 10 1/4” hand size, 32 1/4” arm length, 77 3/4” wingspan, 4.77s 40-yard dash, 7.35s 33-cone drill, 4.54s short shuttle, 40” vertical jump, 11’1” broad jump, 27 bench press reps, 6.44 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: New England Patriots (2026-) | College: South Alabama (2022-23), Missouri (2024-25)
A two-way player in high school, who played both wide receiver and linebacker, Jacobs was rated as a three-star recruit coming out of Niceville, FL. Even though he had shown some potential, he only received a single FBS offer and therefore spent his first two collegiate seasons at South Alabama. After playing 24 games with three starts as a Jaguar — notching 60 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception — he entered the transfer portal in 2024.
Jacobs ended up at Missouri, where he started eight of 19 games over the next two years. He added 61 tackles and five sacks to his tally, but his production was nonetheless not enough to earn him a spot in the NFL Draft. Instead, he joined the Patriots as a rookie free agent after not hearing his name called in any of the seven rounds in April 2026.
Strengths: Jacobs is an explosive player with the appropriate play strength to succeed at the next level. He has shown some good instincts from his spot at the second level as well as the ability to sniff out plays and pull the trigger decisively when making a read. In general, he plays with a high motor both when coming downhill against the run or when in pursuit. He also is a sound tackler, who is capable of delivering big hits but also does not sacrifice his technique for added physicality. Jacobs additionally comes with plenty of special teams experienced, and was well-respected as a team leader at Missouri.
Weaknesses: Jacobs is undersized by traditional linebacker standards, with his lack of bulk and length both limiting his success. As a pass rusher, he is a hit-or-miss player who can make the play when finding a gap but also be entirely neutralized when blockers get their hands on him. He also lacks the second gear to consistently be trusted downfield in 1-on-1 coverage, and remains a work in progress as far as the consistency of his reads is concerned. He also never produced at a...
