The Patriots Need to Pay Christian Gonzalez Before It Costs Them More

Although it was sunny in Foxborough, Mass., on Monday, there was a black cloud hovering over New England Patriots training camp in the form of Christian Gonzalez’ unsigned contract.

Gonzalez has a deal that runs through the 2027 season – New England picked up his fifth-year option, which is worth a fully guaranteed $18.199 million in 2027 – but is seeking an extension. Patriots owner Robert Kraft told the media on the first day of training camp that the team offered Gonzalez a contract that would make him the top-paid cornerback in the league and the top paid player in the franchise’s history, but the sides haven’t come to terms.

The Patriots need Gonzalez, arguably the best player on their team, to be healthy (and happy) if they expect to make a return trip to the Super Bowl after losing to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. The sooner they sign Gonzalez the better off they’ll be. Prolonged negotiations could become a distraction and would likely have financial implications that wouldn’t help the team (more on that in a bit).

“Each side is trying to do what is right for them,” Patriots executive vice president Eliot Wolf told WBZ TV during the team’s preseason game against Philadelphia on Saturday. “Christian is a tremendous player that we’ve been on record multiple times saying we want him to be here, and that hasn’t changed. We’re going to continue working with his representation to try and get something done.”

Gonzalez returned to practice Monday after missing nearly two weeks with an ankle injury, and he deserves some credit for that. Many players of his caliber would sit out the preseason while negotiating to avoid the risk of an injury that could negate his big pay day.

"I think he's honestly handling it as best as I can imagine anyone in his situation is handling it," Patriots safety Kevin Byard said. "I think he's being a pro. This is a life-changing situation for him, you know what I mean? I get it. He's not in the locker room pouting or not being himself, so I think he's handling it very well."

The Seahawks agreed to terms with their best cornerback, Devon Witherspoon, Saturday. Witherspoon signed a four-year extension worth $132 million, an average salary of $33 million per year. That made him the highest paid cornerback in the NFL.

Witherspoon and Gonzalez were both selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and have the same agent, Reginald Johnson of Elite One Sports.

The deal Witherspoon signed eclipsed the contract Cleveland cornerback Denzel Ward signed during the offseason that pays him $31.1 million per year, and Ward’s contract exceeded the deal struck between the Los Angeles Rams and cornerback Trent McDuffie in the offseason that was worth $124 million overall and $31 million per year.

Denver’s Patrick Surtain II, who many consider to be the best cornerback in the NFL, signed a record-setting contract in 2024 that paid him an annual salary of $24 million. The Broncos added a $5 million bonus this year, but it’s hard to envision Surtain not wanting to be paid more after seeing what others at his position are now making.

Gonzalez is going to get his money at some point. Based on the recent contracts signed by some of the league’s top cornerbacks, it’s clear that the longer the Patriots wait, the more they’re going to pay.