Throughout the dynasty years in New England, Bill Belichick and the Patriots' front office earned a reputation for being unwilling to reward superstar players with the hefty contracts they more than deserved, leading many to leave the team for what they believed were greener pastures across the league.
The most notable losses that still sting many fans are Adam Vinatieri, who left over a contract dispute and signed with the Patriots' biggest rival at the time, the Colts, and Tom Brady, who took massive pay cuts year in and year out for the team to get the talent they needed to help win six Super Bowls.
Now that they're in a new era and appear back on the road to being a contender again, as they just came off a Super Bowl appearance, they'll soon be back in situations where they'll have to decide if retaining players at a high price tag is worth it or if letting them walk suits them best.
That started with Christian Gonzalez, a 2023 first-round draft pick who has become a staple of New England's defense. Not only that, but he's already considered one of the best cornerbacks in the league, making it even more crucial that he received his well-deserved extension.
The belief was that it would be an easy process between Gonzalez and the Patriots at the start of the offseason, but it dragged on until less than 48 hours before kickoff against the Seahawks, when they finally announced a 4-year, $135 million deal.
Given how important Gonzalez has become to the future of the defense and the team as a whole, it's a positive sign that they were finally able to secure an extension.
But it would be fair to say it also signals that Robert Kraft is more willing to dish out big-money contracts to the players who deserve it most, an apparent shift in his mindset from the two decades under Belichick.
Robert Kraft might finally have changed his philosophy when it comes to Patriots' spending
For 20+ years, the Patriots were the team to play for because they were constantly a Super Bowl contender. With Tom Brady under center, Josh McDaniels calling the offense, and Bill Belichick as the head coach, it was a winning combination that any player would love to be part of.
Within that, however, was knowing you likely wouldn't receive a massive offer to join the roster, or an extension if you hoped to return. It was a sacrifice many longtime Patriots were willing to make, and some knew it was their best chance to win a Lombardi Trophy in their career.
And while that is still the ultimate goal, even with Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel, and McDaniels taking over, much of the front office's philosophy needs to change in how it goes about business, starting with contracts.
The Patriots are in a new era now, and there is a lot more money to spend to build a solid roster. That does mean that players will be looking for higher salaries, but rewarding your high-performing players, especially ones you drafted and developed, will be key to long-term success in Foxboro.
That hasn't been commonplace for the Patriots over the last 20 years. In fact, Gonzalez is the first first-round draft pick since Dont'a Hightower in 2011 to receive a second contract with the team. He has also surpassed the recent record-breaking contract given to Milton Williams last offseason by $31 million, giving him the biggest contract in franchise history.
That means something, and it should set a precedent for how the Patriots move forward.
There's almost nothing the cornerback could have done better over the last three years to earn the label of becoming the highest-paid at the position. The Patriots were extremely lucky he was still on the board after they traded down in the first round, and have benefited every second from having him on the team.
Now, Kraft has to take this as a lesson in handling extensions going forward, especially since Maye is next on the docket.
They can't risk dragging negotiations out until the final second again, nor should they want to make that the norm when it comes time for extensions with their players. It's a bad look not just for the owner but for the franchise, so it's best to make this the one time they make that mistake.
Patriots fans will be counting on the best players to be rewarded for their hard work, just as they finally did with Gonzalez; given how this situation ended, it's a promise Kraft cannot break.
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