Experts around the NFL believe that Christian Gonzalez will be the Patriots' top player this season, or at least one of them. If that's the case, the Patriots will have a pretty strong defense that will keep the team in just about every game this season.
Gonzalez's cause will be aided by the presence of Carlton Davis III this season, as the free-agent signee from Detroit now gives the Patriots two lockdown cornerbacks. Opposing quarterbacks will have to be wary of Gonzalez this season.
As much hype as there is around Drake Maye and Stefon Diggs potentially becoming a solid quarterback-receiver duo if things pan out well, Gonzalez was the only Patriot tabbed in CBS Sports' Pete Prisco's preseason list of top 100 players in the league. He was ranked 62nd.
Can other Patriots join Gonzalez by the end of the season? That's not impossible to believe, but guys like Maye and Diggs are going to have to have outstanding seasons to climb into that category.
Latest player rankings has Christian Gonzalez primed for a big 2025 season
Opposing coaches tend to throw away from a team's best defender. Bill Belichick was often a master at taking away the opponent's best receiver, forcing opposing quarterbacks to look elsewhere for their targets.
Opponents have viewed Gonzalez in that light early in his career, as although he lost most of his rookie season to injury, Gonzalez has shown superstar tendencies in his first couple of seasons.
The presence of Davis could ultimately help Gonzalez work his way further up that top 100 list, as coaches and quarterbacks will have to pick their poison in terms of how to attack New England's secondary. Gonzalez will likely be assigned to a team's top receiving threat more often than not, but you have to remember that Davis has the skills to be a top cornerback on just about any other team.
When it's all said and done, don't be surprised if a couple of other Patriots work their way into the top 100 of these types of lists, especially if the team makes the postseason. Maye and Diggs are the most likely candidates, it seems, but Gonzalez could very well be in the top 50 by the end of the season, if not higher.