Going into the offseason, with a massive extension still needing to be agreed upon, Patriots fans were a bit nervous about what the future might hold. It has been a long time since the team had a superstar like Christian Gonzalez on the roster, and the only plan that makes sense is to do everything imaginable to keep him around.
Since becoming the final first-round pick made by Bill Belichick as the Patriots' head coach and unofficial general manager, the cornerback has quickly risen in the ranks and proven himself to be one of the best in the league.
Aside from his performance showcasing that, the struggles the defense has when he's not on the field prove his value beyond any doubt, making it an absolute no-brainer to offer him the extension he not only wants, but deserves. And that's what has looked like the plan over the past few months, even if the front office appears to be dragging their feet.
But the longer the negotiation process goes on, the more concerning it's becoming.
And while recent chatter has suggested they might be nearing a deal, especially since Robert Kraft revealed they offered Gonzalez the most money in team history to make him the highest-paid cornerback in the league, the latest update from NFL insider Mike Garafolo doesn't provide much optimism that a deal is any closer to getting done like we thought.
The Patriots continue to put off getting an extension done with Christian Gonzalez
While speaking about the latest updates on training camp, Garafolo revealed what he's heard about the Patriots and Gonzalez, and it's far from what any fan wants to hear at this stage of the offseason.
“That is not imminent, by the way. From everything I can understand, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done on that front.”
Because it's the final month of the offseason, it's more urgent that a deal is reached now, or there is a risk the cornerback will hold out to start the season, despite being present at training camp and fully participating so far.
Things could change if the conversations stall further, and that's not exactly what the team needs at this point, with Gonzalez a major part of their defensive efforts. Not to mention, the longer they draw out negotiations, the more money they'll likely be on the hook for, especially if the Seahawks get a deal done with Devon Witherspoon first.
It feels like a situation that should've been much easier to get done, considering just how important Gonzalez has become over the last four years.
On top of it all, proving that they are willing to reward their homegrown talent for their performance will be crucial to setting the team up for the future, and since Maye will be up for an extension next offseason, getting a deal done with Gonzalez sooner rather than later could presumably make those conversations next year much smoother.
Prolonging the process with Gonzalez only ensures that won't be the case, so hopefully, what Garafolo is hearing isn't the entire picture and the Patriots will get things wrapped up shortly.
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