The New England Patriots are not privy to lengthy contract disputes. Owner Robert Kraft has a solid reputation as a seldom-frugal spender, especially when it comes to putting together a roster.
So when a team like the Cincinnati Bengals, which is widely regarded as the cheapest team in the NFL, can reach an agreement with its second-round draft pick before the Patriots can, it's a little out of the ordinary.
The Bengals' 2025 first-round draft pick threatened to return to college football 30 days before the NFL season started, for crying out loud.
The Patriots selected Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Jacas is the last player from the Patriots draft class to remain unsigned, and the last second-round pick in the entire National Football League to agree to a contract.
It is not uncommon for negotiations to drag on with second-round picks, as they have a lot to negotiate for when it comes to guarantees.
But the situation became exceptionally odd when head coach Mike Vrabel spoke to reporters at mandatory mini-camp and revealed that, on top of the ongoing negotiations, Jacas is recovering from a procedure he underwent over the offseason.
Perhaps Jacas's camp, knowing that he would not be able to participate at camp anyway due to the injury, used mini-camp as extra runway to gain more negotiating time and better conditions for their client.
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