The New England Patriots have one of the league's premier defenses, and their cornerback trio is the crown jewel.
Christian Gonzalez is a bona fide superstar, Carlton Davis is a volatile but solid No. 2, and Marcus Jones is one of the best slot corners and the most dynamic return man in football.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that breaking apart the trio would be far from ideal, but unfortunately, there's a chance, however small, that it happens. Gonzalez has yet to sign a contract extension, and while he has two years left on his rookie contract, it seems negotiations have stalled.
Reports indicate that Gonzalez is looking for a deal that would include ripping up the last two years of his rookie contract, while Robert Kraft and company are unwilling to do so. Money doesn't seem to be the issue, so much as when Gonzalez receives it.
With Devon Witherspoon now re-signed in Seattle, the cornerback market is reset. Gonzalez would need to make upwards of $33 million yearly in order to become the highest-paid cornerback in the league, which is likely his goal. That would make him the highest-paid Patriot of all time by some margin.
It's been mentioned that Gonzalez is concerned that without dissolving his current contract before his extension, his deal will become obsolete within the next few years, much like Patrick Surtain's four-year extension in 2024, worth $96 million.
Then the highest-paid defensive back in history, he now ranks sixth in total contract value among cornerbacks and eighth in average salary.
The Sauce Gardner trade offers a look into what compensation might look like for Gonzalez
Gonzalez is a top-two cornerback in football, with the general consensus putting him behind only Surtain, the 2024 DPOY award winner. Losing him would be a massive blow to the roster and, specifically, Zak Kuhr's defense. Davis as a No. 1 cornerback isn't ideal, and it would likely thrust Charles Woods into a starting role.
The odds of Gonzalez being traded seem very low. The Patriots have a Super Bowl window with Drake Maye on a rookie contract and just made a move for A.J. Brown, meaning they'll be looking to maximize their opportunity now.
For argument's sake, however, let's say negotiations go south and the former Oregon Duck requests a trade.
The trade of Sauce Gardner offers a solid measuring stick. The Colts traded a pair of first-round picks and Adonai Mitchell, a player selected in the second round the year prior. On his own, Mitchell would likely have been worth about a fourth-round pick.
Gonzalez is better than Gardner, but Gardner had already signed an extension with significant, very beneficial cap implications for the Colts. The Jets took on all of Gardner's guaranteed money during the first season, meaning the Colts were responsible for paying him just $625k.
In 2026, Gardner is on the Colts' books for just $9.5 million. It isn't until 2027 that the cap hits begin to surpass $20 million, and eventually $30 million.
The team trading for Gonzalez would be responsible for signing him to a new deal without any cap benefits. They'd also be making a trade with a Patriots team that wouldn't have been keen to trade a star player, unlike the rebuilding Jets.
What might a Christian Gonzalez trade look like?
Looking at potential partners for a deal, teams like the Cowboys, Commanders, and Buccaneers would almost certainly be interested. All three have playoff hopes and are ranked in the bottom six in pass yards allowed per game.
Using the Gardner framework of two first-round picks and a young contributor, each team could offer a unique package. The Cowboys could offer the Patriots the 2025 second-round selection Shavon Revel, giving them a chance to develop a young cornerback to replace Gonzalez.
The Commanders could do the same with either Trey Amos or Mike Sainristil, while the Buccaneers could do so with Benjamin Morrison.
While it wouldn't be ideal, trading Gonzalez would mean returning multiple first-round selections and a young player with starting potential. It would be foolish to hope for a Gonzalez trade, but if negotiations stall, the Patriots will need to weigh their options.
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