The NFL schedule makers have put a major roadblock in front of the New England Patriots by slotting them in on Week 1 against the Champion Seattle Seahawks on September 9th. It won't get any more difficult than that, especially in light of Seattle's crushing the Patriots a few months ago in Super Bowl LX.
Lots of matchups that day went wrong, but one that didn't was Christian Gonzalez vs. Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The cornerback held arguably the NFL's best receiver to four catches for a measly 27 yards. That was no mean feat, though JSN did go off for a medical evaluation in the third quarter. Regardless, Gonzalez made an auspicious worldwide debut in a classic case of the "Best Versus the Best" and came out on top.
Now, with the Patriots set to immediately match up with the Seahawks away, the pressure will be on Gonzalez again to lock down JSN. Even without a standout performance from JSN, the Seahawks demolished the Patriots.
If the Patriots are to have any chance to reverse the result of that Super Bowl beatdown, Gonzalez will have to repeat his virtuoso Super Bowl performance.
Christian Gonzalez can immediately justify his contract extension
The Patriots have picked up Christian Gonzalez's fifth-year option, as he was a first-round draft pick. Regardless, the player has demonstrated that he's a difference-maker when he's on the field and one of the very best, if not the very best, NFL cornerbacks right now.
It would be a mistake not to pony up the dough for the team's second-best player. Bill Belichick did that with Tom Brady, and it didn't end well.
Gonzo Island 🏝️ https://t.co/v1Ve4niDRX pic.twitter.com/lMVtJX37Eo
— Foxboro Forever (@_FoxboroForever) May 14, 2026
NFL teams that don't pay their best players who perform brilliantly, as Gonzalez has, are short-sighted. That's where the cash should go - to the best. Then there should be moderately paid good players, lower-paid rookies, and others making up the squad.
Extensions for players like Gonzalez and, in a year, Drake Maye after him are no-brainers. The Patriots should just ante up and not play games with these players if they're serious about being a long-term competitor for trophies.
Where NFL teams go wrong is by overpaying lesser-quality players to be average or a bit better. That's a foolish waste of resources. The mantra for the Patriots and every other NFL or other professional team, for that matter, should be, "Pay the Best, and Scout the Rest".
If they do so, they'll never regret it. It's time for the Patriots to pay Christian Gonzalez - now. He's the best there is.
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