As the trade for AJ Brown has become the focus for all things Patriots this week, the ongoing negotiations, or lack thereof, with cornerback Christian Gonzalez have gone a bit more under the radar than anyone anticipated.
Although it was a main story at the start of the offseason, it has taken a backseat to all things Brown, but that might be changing with the latest update.
The cornerback is in for the first extension of his career, and the Patriots have already shown good faith by picking up his fifth-year option. They're now on the hook to pay Gonzalez what he's worth, which is already projected to be a market-resetting contract, and it doesn't appear to be happening any time soon.
Despite being present at the team facility earlier this offseason, Gonzalez has chosen to sit out OTAs, and that has some of his teammates now being asked about the ongoing situation.
Based on what fellow cornerback Marcus Jones had to say over the weekend at Drake Maye's charity softball game, it's clear Gonzalez has the support of the locker room, and they hope to see him get the pay day that he has earned and deserves.
Christian Gonzalez has the support of his teammates amid holdout with the Patriots
Jones said as much when speaking to reporters on Sunday, while also emphasizing his support for the Patriots, too.
It's the first real time that his teammates have spoken on the matter, especially in such detail, and their understanding is probably good to hear, considering the situation Gonzalez finds himself in at this stage of his career.
“He means a lot. When it comes down to it, we support him and also the organization. At the end of the day, that’s their thing. We’re ready when it comes down to him. I know he’s always one of those guys where no matter where he’s at, he’s always working. It’s a day-by-day thing. I’ve been in the situation of learning about how contract negotiations stuff goes about. At the end of the day, they want what’s best for them, and he wants what’s best for him.
We’re not rushing it when it comes down to it. At the end of the day, we all know the value that he comes (with) when it comes down to our team."
It's always good to hear teammates be supportive of one another, and as a fan, it makes you hope even more that the Patriots truly understand just how valuable a player like Gonzalez is to the team and their future, and will finally just give him what he's worth.
Since he was drafted, Gonzalez has become the face of the defense and has only played his best football since returning from that season-ending injury as a rookie. He finally earned Pro Bowl honors last season, after being named a Second-Team All-Pro in 2024, and is only expected to continue his rise to superstardom in 2026.
He's done more than enough to prove his value to the Patriots, and it should be an easy decision to give him a long-term extension to keep him on the team for as long as possible.
From what we know, the higher-ups in New England feel the same way, but they're still taking their time in getting a deal done. Hopefully, it will come together sooner rather than later to avoid any legitimate holdout ahead of the upcoming season, or there might be reason to worry.
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