As mandatory minicamp begins in Foxboro, concerns are starting to surface about one Patriots' rookie who has yet to sign his first contract.
The team's 2026 second-round pick, edge rusher Gabe Jacas, is the final player of this year's class to sign their rookie contract, and given that he hasn't been present at the facility, it's starting to look problematic.
Not only has he not practiced in recent weeks, which has also drawn out concerns about an injury that we haven't been informed about, but he also hasn't put pen to paper to make his presence in New England official, and that could become a major problem if it continues as the summer nears.
Patriots first-round pick Caleb Lomu has signed his contract, per the team.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) June 8, 2026
That leaves second-round edge Gabe Jacas as the lone unsigned pick.
At this point in the offseason, teams don't want to be dealing with any lingering concern that one of their most prized rookies is holding out over a contract. It's dire for them to be on the field practicing ahead of their first season, and the Patriots haven't had that with Jacas yet.
There has been speculation that he's dealing with an injury, and that is keeping him away. But there had been no reports confirming that until Mike Vrabel said it on Tuesday afternoon, and because of that, there is plenty of reason to start looking at the Patriots' current roster and what a Jacas-less training camp could look like.
Gabe Jacas is the final Patriots' rookie to sign his contract - but it's not looking good
Addressing the pass rush was one of the key points of emphasis for the Patriots this offseason, and although there's a good argument to make that they didn't do enough to upgrade the group they had, especially since they let K'Lavon Chaisson walk in free agency, there is some excitement about what a player like Jacas can bring.
He will join a group led by Harold Landry III and the newly signed Dre'Mont Jones, both of whom are solid players, though not the explosive options most fans were hoping for.
That creates a big opportunity for the rookie, who's coming off a final season at Illinois, having recorded 43 combined tackles, 13.5 for a loss, 11 sacks, and three forced fumbles. That's exactly the kind of production the Patriots' defense needs, so Jacas's absence could be a significant issue.
The hope is that he's rehabbing a minor injury, and the team sees it best to keep him off the field until training camp. That would potentially explain why a contract hasn't been signed, which has become a trend in the NFL with rookie second-round picks, and it won't continue to be an issue for much longer.
That's the best-case scenario, because we know how much this defense needs Jacas in the lineup, so we'll have to keep our fingers crossed for a resolution sooner rather than later.
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