Pro Football Rumors
Patriots owner Robert Kraft revealed at the start of training camp that the team has submitted an offer that would make Christian Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
“Coincidentally, it is the highest contract in Patriots franchise history,” Kraft said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “So we’re glad we drafted him, he’s developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”
Gonzalez, 24, was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He missed most of his rookie season due to a labrum tear but has since established himself as one of the league’s premier shutdown cornerbacks. He has allowed just 6.0 yards per target over the last two years with 21 passes defended. In 2024, Gonzalez earned a second-team All-Pro nod; last year, he was named to the Pro Bowl.
The cornerback market is currently topped by Trent McDuffie at $31MM per year. Kraft’s comments indicate that Gonzalez will ultimately sign for more than that, which has long been the expectation. Contract talks have dragged on due in part to Gonzalez’s shared representation with fellow Pro Bowl cornerback and 2023 first-round pick Devon Witherspoon, who is currently negotiating a long-term deal with the Seahawks. Witherspoon, who has earned three straight Pro Bowl nods to start his career, should also eclipse McDuffie’s contract. Ultimately, whichever player signs last will likely enter the season as the league’s highest-paid cornerback.
Gonzalez did not attend OTAs amid his contract talks, though he was at mandatory minicamp. He is a full participant to begin training camp, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, a positive sign for progress on a long-term deal.
Tom Brady‘s $23MM per-year deal signed in 2019 is currently the highest AAV the Patriots have handed out, while Christian Barmore‘s four-year, $84MM extension is their biggest overall contract. Gonzalez will outpace those figures by a significant margin, and Drake Maye will likely blow them out of the water entirely when he becomes extension-eligible next year.
