The New England Patriots could be close to getting a contract extension done for corner Christian Gonzalez. The Boston Herald reported this on Sunday afternoon. (subscription needed)
Gonzalez is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The corner was taken 17th overall in the 2023 NFL draft and has turned into one of the best corners in the game. He was named to his first Pro Bowl this past season. He recorded 69 tackles and 10 passes defensed in 14 games.
Patriots Working To Get Deal Done
The extension has been a hot-button topic throughout the off-season, and now it looks like a deal may be coming to fruition soon.
“Christian Gonzalez’s contract extension remains only a matter of time, per sources. One front-office member suggested Gonzalez and Drake Maye are the only truly safe players on the Patriots’ roster, underscoring the team’s desire to keep the star cornerback. The timing of Gonzalez’s deal will depend on the team’s other transactions and outgoing cash flow, including money owed to free agents they signed last year.”
The Oregon product has had a busy and interesting career to this point. He wanted the defensive Rookie of the Month honors for September. He recorded his first career interception against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2 and his first sack against the Philadelphia Eagles in the season-opener. With that being said, his season was cut short by a shoulder injury that he suffered against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4.
2024 saw him bounce back in a big way. He appeared in 16 games. The corner recorded 11 pass deflections and two interceptions. He reported his first career touchdown when he returned a fumble 63 yards for a score against the Dolphins. He did not make the Pro Bowl, but he did get Associated Press All-Pro Second-Team honors.
A Banner 2025 Season For Patriots
This past season saw him deal with injuries. He missed the first three games due to a hamstring injury. Nevertheless, he was still productive. He was able to make it to his first Pro Bowl. On top of this, he had several key plays throughout the year. Perhaps his most memorable one was a game-sealing interception against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.
The interception against the Broncos was a microcosm of what was a solid group of playoff games. The corner recorded 19 tackles, seven pass deflections, one interception, one sack, and one forced fumble in four games.
This is certainly massive news for the Patriots. He has been a cornerstone of the defense ever since his rookie season. He has also emerged as a key contributor to the franchise’s rebuild overall. Getting a deal done is important for the Patriots, as you’d probably get a ton of interest on the open market.
The Patriots are going to be locking up a big-time piece of their future. Gonzalez means quite a bit to this team on the field. This would fortify the secondary for years to come and allow them to have a player whom they can build the rest of the defense.
Historically, the team has done well with developing corners. Ty Law, Asante Samuel, and Stefon Gilmore are all proof of that. Gonzalez could be the bona fide star corner in the organization. Getting the deal done now would be the smartest thing to do. It will be interesting to see what the price point and length of this deal is, and if Gonzalez will get paid like an elite cornerback.
