Mike Vrabel ‘cautiously optimistic’ about Gabe Jacas contract situation

Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois defensive lineman Gabe Jacas (DL44) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Entering Friday, only three out of the 257 players picked in this year's NFL Draft have not signed their rookie deals yet. Besides quarterbacks Ty Simpson and Drew Allar, New England Patriots second-round pick Gabe Jacas is the only non-quarterback to remain out of contract.

As a consequence, Jacas did not report to the Patriots' training camp this week. As head coach Mike Vrabel said during a pre-camp press conference on Friday, however, conversations between the two sides have been positive.

We're continuing to work through the contract," Vrabel explained. I think those have been positive between the club and his representatives. Hopefully, we'll get him in here sooner rather than later. I'm not going to put a timeline on it or a timeframe, but I've spoken to Gabe personally. Excited to get him in when he's under contract."

Vrabel did not go into too much detail about the matter, but he pointed to the nature of the contract as a potential hold-up between the Patriots and Jacas' camp.

Every contract is unique. Every contract is different. But it will get resolved, I'm positive that it will," he said. I'd use the word cautiously optimistic. Those conversations have been great, and excited to see where he's at."

Following a short trade-up, the Patriots selected Jacas as the 55th overall pick in this year's draft. He arrived in New England after a four-year career at Illinois, where he registered 11 sacks and was voted second-team All-Big Ten during his final season.

However, his pre-draft process was impacted by hamstring a hamstring issue and the fallout of a clean-up procedure on his left knee. Whether or not the medical concerns played a part in the slow signing process was not said by Vrabel.

We're not going to go into the injuries," he pointed out. I've mentioned that Gabe had a surgery to take care of some things, and that's where we're at. We're going to evaluate him when he gets here, and I know that Jim [Whalen] and Frank [Piraino] have been in contact with him throughout the summer."

The Patriots will hold their first practice of this year's training camp on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET.