Pats Pulpit
Gonzalez had a pair of interceptions in Tuesday’s practice.
In his first All-Pro season in 2024, cornerback Christian Gonzalez proved how challenging he can make life for opposing quarterbacks throwing his direction. On the backfields of Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, his own quarterback learned the hard way.
During the New England Patriots’ second OTA practice of the offseason, Drake Maye saw a pair of passes intercepted by Gonzalez as the corner already looked to be in midseason form. The second was Gonzalez’s best work as he bailed off the flat to impressively track down an over the shoulder deep ball to an open Kyle Williams.
“Got two off of [Drake],” Gonzalez said with a smile after practice. “Two different coverages. Both where I got to see the quarterback so that helps as a DB. Just saw the ball and went and go get it.”
While things looked the same on the field for Gonzalez, the offseason was quite different from the previous year for the 22-year-old. After playing in just four games his rookie year, Gonzalez had to readjust his routine these past few months after suiting up for 16 games in 2024.
That included taking some time off mentally and then getting back to work, even trying out new workouts such as pilates.
Returning to the facility for the Patriots offseason program, the changes then continued. Gonzalez was met by an all new coaching staff led by Mike Vrabel, marking his third head coach in his three-year career.
“A lot of new faces, but I mean we’re rolling. Love playing for Vrabel so far, great energy,” Gonzalez said. “Everything you see on TV, that’s exactly what you get. He put on a little 51 jersey, which is I thought was something he did in the past, but he still do it. But his energy, he always has great energy, Always smiling, so I’ve enjoyed it.”
Taking his usual place in Vrabel’s new defense on Tuesday, Gonzalez also has a new running mate this season as the Patriots signed cornerback Carlton Davis to a three-year, $60 million contract in free agency.
The duo, who were a fixture across from each other on Tuesday, project to be one of the league’s best on the field, while Gonzalez is enjoying picking the 28-year old Davis’ brain off of it as well.
“It’s going to be awesome just learning and playing with CD,” Gonzalez said. “I mean he’s been in it. He’s played in the Super Bowl so he’s seen that at the highest level. He’s done it, so that’s only not great for me but for the whole room to just have his voice in there and just pick up tips from him. Anything he can learn from us, we can learn from him, and just chopping it up, piggybacking ideas how we play certain things, it’s going to be awesome.”
