Overview
- Jacas, the Patriots’ No. 55 pick, completed protracted contract talks in late July and was the final second-rounder to sign a rookie deal with the team.
- His four-year agreement, reported at roughly $8.6–$8.7 million with about a $2.76 million signing bonus, includes a left-knee injury waiver that can void guarantees tied to that knee through the contract’s early years.
- Jacas was activated from the non-football injury list and began practicing, which included individual drills, a won 1-on-1 rep and 11-on-11 work during the Saturday practice when he was first on the field.
- Coaches have given him frequent one-on-one instruction to speed his return, say he must make up missed time, and are using special-teams reps to integrate him safely into game work.
- New England traded up to draft Jacas for pass-rush upside, and his late start plus the knee waiver leave the team managing both short-term depth and longer-term financial exposure as camp and the preseason progress.