Ever since Christian Gonzalez was drafted by New England in the first round at pick No. 17 in 2023, the Patriots have had high hopes for him.
After an injury-shortened rookie season in 2023 in which he only played four games, Gonzalez returned in 2024 and earned Second Team All-Pro honors on a Patriots team that was in contention for the No. 1 overall draft pick until the season's final week.
Easily the best player on the Patriots in 2024, Gonzalez recorded 59 tackles, intercepted two passes, recovered a fumble, and had 11 passes defended for the season.
Gonzalez earned his respect, as he is one of ESPN's top 100 players for 2025. Coming in at No. 63 might seem a little low, but it's hardly the only reason that Gonzalez should carry a chip on his shoulder heading into the season.
Christian Gonzalez will continue to prove he's one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL
As one of the best corners in the game, he will look to take one of the spots that Patrick Surtain II and Derek Stingley Jr. filled in 2024 as a First Team All-Pro selection, while also looking to earn the Pro Bowl nod that he was denied in 2024.
Fair or not, Gonzalez's ceiling will largely be affected by his teammates' performance, not only defensively but also on the offensive side of the ball. If we look at ESPN's Top 100 players of 2026, and Gonzalez is the only Patriot on that list, things won't look good for Gonzalez or the Patriots.
With veteran leadership such as Harold Landry helping to anchor the defense, and an offense featuring an infusion of youth led by offensive tackle Will Campbell and running back TreVeyon Henderson, there's reason to believe the Patriots will break out of their status as an NFL Draft No. 1 pick contender and move towards the playoffs.
That's music to the ears of not only Patriots fans but also their best player, Christian Gonzalez, who needs a couple of tag team partners to help the team and himself reach the next level.