The buzz around New England Patriots second-round draft pick Gabe Jacas was undeniable back in April. In what was considered a strong 2026 class of edge defenders, the Patriots’ willingness to trade up from pick No. 63 to No. 55 overall to secure Jacas felt like a definitive move at a clear position of need.
The problem is that, now two months later, the Jacas hype train has done a complete 180 and appears to be heading back to the station altogether.
About 30 days away from the start of training camp, Jacas still hasn’t signed his rookie contract. He’s the NFL’s only second-round pick from April’s draft not to sign, with ESPN’s Mike Reiss flagging a standard participation agreement as the core issue. Head coach Mike Vrabel recently confirmed to reporters that Jacas underwent a clean-up procedure in his knee, among other injury issues, and the standoff is likely due to still-unresolved injury guarantees if Jacas were to participate in team activities this summer.
Really, it’s just a frustrating turn of events that has one of the Patriots’ most important 2026 draft picks losing considerable ground to a 2025 undrafted rookie free agent.
In fact, second-year pro Elijah Ponder's quiet rise this spring could leave Jacas grappling for playing time in 2026.
Gabe Jacas’ absence has opened the door for an unlikely Patriots breakout candidate
While much of the reporting on the Patriots’ OTA and minicamp workouts understandably centered upon quarterback Drake Maye, wide receiver A.J. Brown, and the whereabouts of extension-eligible cornerback Christian Gonzalez, the recent commentary on Ponder has become impossible to ignore.
Outside linebackers coach Mike Smith recently noted some “freaky moments” from Ponder this offseason. Defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr added that Ponder has been “a phenomenal pro this spring.”
“I’ve got very high expectations for him — very,” Smith said. “All these guys have done great all spring, but he really, really looks comfortable out there. It has really slowed down for him. And again, we’re June 9th or 10th, but I got high expectations for him. He’s always gonna fight. He’s not gonna say much. He’s very intelligent. … He’s big. He’s as athletic. He’s done some kind of freaky stuff this spring around the edge, the top of his rush that you’re like, ‘Oh, wow, that’s pretty nice to see.’”
#Patriots OLB coach Mike Smith says he has very high expectations for sophomore Elijah Ponder, who he says is having a great spring that’s included some freaky moments at the top of the rush
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) June 9, 2026
Also mentioned Quintayvious Hutchins could play some off ball LB in certain packages
All of this is excellent news for the Patriots, whose edge depth would’ve been a concern had Jacas signed his contract immediately after the draft.
The starters, Harold Landry III and new arrival Dre’Mont Jones, seem to be locked in, but it’s not a stretch to say that Ponder sounds like the next man up in the rotation entering camp. If nothing else, Patriots fans should expect to see an uptick in playing time from Ponder, who played 314 total defensive snaps in Mike Vrabel’s defense last season, including 21 snaps off the bench against the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, per Pro Football Focus. He finished his rookie season appearing in 19 total games with four sacks, four tackles for loss, and five quarterback hits.
Could Jacas end up resolving his contract issue prior to Day 1 of training camp and gain clearance to start participating? Of course. But even in that best-case scenario, Vrabel will likely want to see some sort of ramp up before allowing Jacas to run full speed in team drills.
How much run Jacas gets in practice and the preseason will likely dictate where he lands on the depth chart ahead of the season opener. Right now, Ponder isn’t only keeping his seat warm. The seldom talked about 23-year-old could be the main reason Jacas struggles to carve out the significant rookie role that Patriots fans were expecting back in April.
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