Christian Gonzalez has all the tools to be a superstar cornerback in the NFL. He's one of many young Patriots' players that has fans throughout New England optimistic that the team will be back to contender status in the next year or two.
Gonzalez is also halfway through his rookie deal, as he was drafted in 2023. Even though most of his rookie campaign was spent on injured reserve, it was clear right from the get-go that Gonzalez was going to be counted on to be a cornerstone of the Patriots' defense for years to come.
Assuming Gonzalez has a strong season in 2025, he's going to be worth a lot of money when it comes to his next contract. Defensive players throughout the league, especially cornerbacks, have been receiving hefty paychecks recently, including in the AFC East, where the Jets' Sauce Gardner inked a $30.1-million per year extension in July, making his contract the richest in NFL history for a cornerback.
Could Gonzalez receive a similar deal if he plays like a superstar this season? Should Eliot Wolf and the Patriots make that a priority next offseason?
Recent contract drama throughout the league proves the Patriots need to lock Christian Gonzalez up
Micah Parsons and Trey Hendrickson - two of the league's best pass rushers - have spent much of the summer grumbling about their contracts. Parsons recently requested a trade, as did Commanders' wide receiver Terry McLaurin. That's the type of drama a team doesn't need.
That's also why the Patriots should make giving Gonzalez an extension a priority next spring or summer.
The market for cornerbacks has exploded in recent years, with Gardner, Derek Stingley, Jr., and Jaycee Horn all signing expensive extensions last offseason.
Stingley's $30 million per year deal was the biggest for a cornerback in league history until the Jets gave Gardner his new deal in July. That's a far cry from six years ago, when Xavien Howard was making $15 million per year.
The Patriots can't afford to play catch-up in this context. They can reset the market by giving Gonzalez a lot of money next offseason, and they have the means to do so. That's the biggest reason why trading for a guy like Parsons wouldn't be a smart idea, given the Cowboys will likely want multiple first-round picks from New England, and Parsons will likely want a contract extension similar to Gonzalez's.
Wolf needs to take care of his own guys, and Gonzalez is at the top of that list. The Patriots have plenty of salary cap space to do so.