Gabe Jacas, the Patriots’ second-round draft pick, officially signed his rookie contract this Sunday, locking in a four-year, $8.7 million pact right as training camp kicked off. While getting a core member of their edge rotation under contract is huge for the Patriots, this isn’t just a standard rookie deal. Digging into the numbers, we see a deal structured with some pretty unique protections, especially for a guy picked this high.
The Numbers Tell a Story of High Hopes and High Stakes
This contract is set at a base value of $8,656,970, with a maximum value matching that exactly. The guaranteed money stands at $6,591,473, which includes a $2,755,976 signing bonus. His base salary starts at $885,000 in 2026 and climbs yearly, hitting $1,278,499 in 2027, $1,671,998 in 2028, and finally $2,065,497 in 2029. The Patriots clearly see Jacas as a potential cornerstone at edge rusher for years to come, and these early salaries reflect that foundational investment. For now, his salary cap hit for 2026 is $1,573,994, which breaks down to that $885,000 base plus $688,994 of his signing bonus. It climbs to $1,967,493 in 2027, then $2,360,992 in 2028, and $2,754,491 in 2029.
That Injury Waiver Is a Serious Game-Changer
Here is where it gets interesting, and frankly, a bit unsettling for Jacas. The team is already protecting itself against an alternative scenario, and it all boils down to his left knee. Jacas has been dealing with injuries, including a hamstring issue that limited him pre-draft. More significantly, he underwent a “clean-up” procedure on his knee during the offseason. That surgery and his knee’s current status are why an injury waiver was inserted into his contract, as first reported by Mike Reiss of ESPN. This waiver voids after 2028, which also happens to be exactly when the salary guarantees in his deal end. That is a massive detail. For comparison, other second-round picks, like Eagles TE Eli Stowers and Jaguars TE Nate Boerkircher, have guarantees that extend into their fourth seasons. Stowers has a $482,466 guarantee in 2029, a solid 23% of his base salary, and Boerkircher has $248,183, or 12.1%. Jacas, the 55th pick, has fewer guarantees than the 56th pick. This structure, with the waiver and truncated guarantees, is just not standard practice in the NFL.
This deal screams caution, and it puts the pressure squarely on Jacas to get healthy and perform. He’s currently on the non-football injury list, so the immediate goal is obviously getting him cleared and on the field. The team wants him to be a cornerstone, but his contract means he has to prove it faster than most. His ability to stay healthy will dictate everything for his career with the Patriots.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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