Contract extensions are a fact of life in the NFL. For your best players, they can be a monumental financial commitment. For the very best, they are decisions that will impact the franchise for years. That's the bad news. The good news is that if you're ready to commit to huge extensions for your young players, it means you have good ones.
Recently, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports identified their top extension candidates for each of the 32 NFL teams. It's a list of some of the league's best players who'll likely grab a bagful of cash this offseason or next. One of them is one of the Patriots' top young players, alongside Drake Maye.
That player is 2023's first-round draft pick and a 2024 second-team All-Pro cornerback, the emerging superstar cornerback, Christian Gonzalez.
Christian Gonzalez is headed to the top of the NFL's cornerback position
While Gonzalez gets slighted from time to time by some analysts who aren't paying close attention, there's no doubt he's emerging as one of, if not the best, cornerbacks in the NFL. Entering his third season, there's no doubt whatsoever that his fifth-year option will be picked up after this season, and he'll get a great payday.
"Gonzalez will be eligible for a long-term extension after the 2025 season, and he's another player who could reset the defensive back market the moment he inks his deal. Gonzalez, who was the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has quickly emerged as one of the league's top corners and is coming off a second-team All-Pro season in 2024. If he maintains that level of play or exceeds it in 2025, New England, which spent loads of money bringing in free agents this offseason, will have to use a bulk of its capital to retain Gonzalez for the long term. "
Sullivan did a nice job of outlining the Patriots' situation with Gonzalez. It's also nice to keep in mind that if he hadn't been injured for much of the 2023 season, his standing would be even higher at present.
The Patriots need to give Gonzalez a massive extension after 2025
Barring a major injury and assuming his trend upward continues, Gonzalez will be due for a big payday in 2027 after the team picks up his fifth-year option after this season. In Gonzalez's case, it's a veritable no-brainer. He's shown he deserves to be one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league. After 2025, he may be worthy of the highest.
How should the Patriots approach this situation after 2025? As mentioned, Gonzalez's fifth-year option will be picked up after this season, absent any significant injuries and maybe even with one. But is that the best option for the team with such a potentially great player? Maybe not.
Gonzalez is the caliber of player who warrants a long-term extension. That means after 2025. The Patriots should look to lock the young cornerback up for five or even six years after this season, and there are good reasons why.
First, he's already demonstrated he's among the elite cover corners in the league. They're worth their weight in gold. And he's only going to get better since he has less than two years in the league under his belt. Secondly, he's still a very young corner. Gonzalez won't turn 23 until June 28th. That means he'll still be in his prime even when a five or six-year extension runs out. There is little downside risk to the team.
The Patriots' best option is to move expeditiously after the 2025 season to secure a long-term contract extension for Christian Gonzalez. Barring injury, they'll ensure that they'll have a corner who can handle any receiver in the NFL. Does the team need any more incentive than that?