What Vrabel said about Gonzalez, Jacas, DeAndre Hopkins as camp begins

Happy Training Camp! New England Patriots players reported to Gillette Stadium on Friday ahead of the first official practice of the season on Saturday.

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel spoke to reporters and provided updates on a number of topics, including contract negotiations with star cornerback Christian Gonzalez and second-round rookie Gabe Jacas. He also revealed that five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will be at camp -- just not in the capacity you might expect.

Here are some takeaways from Friday:

-- Vrabel said that Christian Gonzalez reported to camp with everyone else and is expected to participate in practices, despite ongoing negotiations on a contract extension that could make him one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL.

"I would expect him to be here. He is here, and I would expect him to participate," Vrabel said. "Those contract negotiations are ongoing between the club and his agents. I'm excited about having Christian back here with us and the impact that he can make on our football team. Really enjoy the person, enjoy the player, and that's what I'm looking forward to."

One interesting wrinkle in the Gonzalez negotiations is that there is seemingly a bit of a staring contest with Seattle's Devon Witherspoon, another top young corner from the same draft as Gonzalez, who is also in line for a mega-extension, and who happens to have the same agents as Gonzalez. Whichever player signs first is likely to set the new market for the position, and whichever player signs second could potentially then top that.

Asked if it feels like the Patriots and/or Gonzalez are waiting to see what happens with Witherspoon, Vrabel pushed back on the idea.

"No, I don't think those things -- I don't think they have anything to do with one another," Vrabel said. "We're not negotiating with the Seahawks. We're negotiating with Christian's representatives, and I don't think that there's anything different than just our communication with them."

-- The other contract situation to monitor in Foxborough is that of Gabe Jacas, the defensive end that the Patriots traded up to draft in the second round. Jacas is one of just two picks from the entire 2026 draft who remains unsigned, with reports indicating that a hang-up over Jacas' health is the source of disagreement between team and player.

Vrabel said he remains optimistic that they will get a deal done, but didn't want to put a timeline on it. Jacas is not expected to practice until he signs.

"Continuing to to to work through the contract," Vrabel said. "I think that those have been positive, obviously, between the club and his representatives. Hopefully we'll get him in here sooner rather than later. Not going to put a timeline on it or time frame, but, you know, spoken to Gabe personally, and excited to get him in when he's under contract."

Asked directly if the Patriots are "balking" on giving Jacas as much guaranteed money as a second-round pick would usually get, Vrabel declined to get into specifics.

"These are the kind of contractual issues that come up," Vrabel said, "and, you know, you laid out a lot of things that occur throughout those rookie contracts. But every contract is unique. Every contract is different, and it'll get resolved. I'm positive that it will."

-- Vrabel revealed that DeAndre Hopkins, one of the best receivers of the last 15 years, will be hanging around Patriots training camp as he contemplates a potential move into the coaching world.

"DeAndre Hopkins is is here with us, just to kind of check things out as far as what he wants to do as far as coaching," Vrabel said. "You'll see him on the field."

Hopkins, now 34, had said earlier this offseason that he believed he still had something in the tank as a player. He played all 17 games for the Baltimore Ravens last season, but had a limited role and finished the season with 22 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns.

Vrabel stressed multiple times that Hopkins is not trying out for the Patriots or going through drills, though, so it appears Hopkins has shifted his focus to potential next steps in his football life -- at least for the time being. Vrabel also noted that Hopkins' stay might be on the shorter side.

"Him and I talked, and he asked if he could come hang out for a couple days and be around the coaches and be around the personnel department, and I called the league and made sure that that was going to be okay," Vrabel said. "And then I invited him back, and that's where he's been the last couple days, and he'll be here for the next couple days.

"He has got coaching gear on, and he is helping out the offensive coaches and meeting with our personnel guys, and just trying to -- I mean, he loves football. People that love football and have played the game for the length of time that he did, wants I think to explore the opportunities and what that looks like after his playing career is over."

-- Vrabel said that everyone on the roster other than Jacas reported on time Friday. The only new injury update was that veteran special teamer Brenden Schooler will begin camp on the NFI (non-football injury) list. He joins running back Terrell Jennings on the NFI list, while defensive end Harold Landry and tight end CJ Dippre open on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list. Tight end Julian Hill is on season-ending injured reserve.