The New England Patriots have addressed one of their most glaring roster needs by signing undrafted free agent linebacker Khalil Jacobs out of Missouri. This move comes as the team looks to shore up a position group that has been significantly depleted this offseason.

Heading into last month's NFL Draft, linebacker was widely viewed as the Patriots' top priority. It wasn't until the sixth round that they finally added depth, selecting TCU's versatile hybrid linebacker Namdi Obiazor. At 6-foot-2 and 229 pounds, Obiazor brings three years of starting experience and 302 tackles from the Horned Frogs' secondary. He's expected to contribute immediately on special teams and could see defensive snaps as the season progresses.

But one player wasn't going to solve everything. The Patriots' linebacker room took a serious hit this offseason: Jack Gibbens signed with the Arizona Cardinals, Anfernee Jennings and Marte Mapu departed for new contracts elsewhere, and Jahlani Tavai was released. The result is a depth chart that looks thin at best—and that's where Jacobs comes in.

According to a report from Ethan Hurwitz of Sports Illustrated, the Patriots signed Jacobs on Friday morning. The Missouri Tiger served as a team captain in 2025, recording 47 tackles and three sacks for a defense that ranked 25th nationally. While undrafted free agents are always long shots to make the final 53-man roster, Jacobs has the pedigree of an SEC linebacker—and that experience matters.

Jacobs is likely to be a buzzworthy name as preseason activities ramp up. For a Patriots team that needs to rebuild its linebacker corps from the ground up, every promising addition counts. Whether he cracks the roster or lands on the practice squad, Jacobs gives New England another athletic, hard-hitting option to develop.