The New England Patriots’ second-round pick, edge rusher Gabe Jacas, still hasn’t signed his rookie contract, and it looks like his first NFL season might be in jeopardy before it even truly begins. With training camp kicking off this week, the situation around Jacas’s absence is turning into a real headache for a team desperate for defensive help.
Jacas’s Absence Is a Red Flag
The Patriots dropped a video of their rookies showing up for training camp on Tuesday, and fans were hoping, praying even, for some news on Jacas finally inking his deal. But nope. Nada. Crickets. This isn’t just a recent thing either; Jacas completely missed all of the spring work, both on the field and in the classroom. Now, with training camp officially underway, he remains unsigned and out, and that’s a worst-case scenario.
“Redshirt Year” Isn’t Out of the Question
NFL insider Albert Breer didn’t sugarcoat it when talking on NBC Sports Boston. He flat out said he wouldn’t rule out a potential redshirt year for Jacas. Breer highlighted that rookies generally show up for spring work even if they haven’t signed yet. Jacas didn’t do that. And now that training camp has started, being unsigned means you don’t show up. Breer believes we’re “inching closer now to the idea that maybe this winds up being a redshirt year for him.” This is brutal for a Patriots team that greatly needs a pass-rushing boost. Breer himself called Jacas the guy who potentially had “the highest instant impact” from their draft class. Missing all that on-field and classroom time, and still being unsettled going into camp, makes it “harder and harder for him to contribute as a rookie.”
So, what’s the hang-up? An update from ESPN’s Mike Reiss back in June touched on concerns about Jacas’s injury situation. One “high-ranking official” even guessed the Patriots might be seeking financial protection in the contract. That’s likely where the impasse lies between the two sides. And get this: that gap hasn’t shown any signs of closing. This is a huge problem.
This whole saga puts a massive question mark over what kind of impact Jacas can have this season. Will the Patriots and Jacas finally get this deal done, or are we truly looking at a lost season for a rookie who was supposed to be a key piece of their pass rush? We’re all watching to see if this contract drama finally breaks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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