New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots don’t have many players on their roster who could be labeled as a superstar. If there’s one guy who certainly fits that bill, though, it’s third-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Gonzalez immediately starred with the Pats in 2023, only to see his season get cut short after four games due to a shoulder injury.
In 2024, Gonzalez made a triumphant return, playing in 16 games for the Patriots, racking up 59 tackles, two interceptions, 11 passes defended and a touchdown off a fumble recovery. As a result of his strong play, Gonzalez earned a spot on the All-Pro Second Team.
Even though he only has one full season under his belt in the NFL, Gonzalez has already solidified himself as one of the best players at his position in the league. In fact, New England’s star corner earned himself a 95 overall rating in the upcoming Madden NFL 26 video game, which is the second-highest rating among all players at that position.
The only cornerback who comes in ahead of Gonzalez is Patrick Surtain II of the Denver Broncos, as he earned a 97 overall rating. Considering how he just won Defensive Player of the Year last season, though, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Some may consider ranking Gonzalez over players like Jalen Ramsey, Sauce Gardner and Trent McDuffie a bit premature, but it goes to show how he’s already turned himself into one of the best players in the league.
While Gonzalez is dealing with a hamstring injury early in training camp, he should be ready to go for the start of the 2025 campaign. And assuming he is, he will be looking to prove why he was ranked the second-best cornerback in the league by Madden.
