New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced on Saturday that the franchise has offered cornerback Christian Gonzalez a record-breaking contract extension. The proposed deal aims to make Gonzalez the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history and the richest contract ever awarded by the Patriots organization.
Robert Kraft Details Historic Extension Offer in Foxborough
The New England Patriots returned to action on Saturday for Day 1 of training camp in Foxboro. While fans were treated to an entertaining practice behind Gillette Stadium, there were more noteworthy stories off the field than on it. As the New England Patriots opened training camp on Saturday, the biggest headlines emerged off the practice field. Speaking to reporters ahead of the team’s first session, owner Robert Kraft pulled back the curtain on ongoing negotiations with Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez is at Patriots training camp as he continues to talk to the team about a contract extension and Saturday brought some idea of what those conversations have looked like this offseason. Patriots owner Robert Kraft said that the team has offered Gonzalez a deal that would set records for both NFL cornerbacks and members of the Patriots organization.
“We love Christian Gonzalez. We love him as a player, as a person, and that’s why we’ve made an offer to him to make him the highest-paid player to ever play that position in the NFL,” Kraft said, via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. “And coincidentally, it is the highest contract in Patriots franchise history. So we’re glad we drafted him, he’s developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”
Robert Kraft, Patriots Owner
Gonzalez is under contract for another two years after the Pats exercised his fifth-year rookie option this offseason, but both he and New England are interested in making a longer-term commitment. The Pro Bowler said as much following the season, his first as a Pro Bowler for a Patriots team that thwarted all expectations to reach the Super Bowl. Gonzalez, the No. 17 overall pick of the 2023 draft, is under contract for another two years after the Pats exercised his fifth-year rookie option this offseason, but both he and New England are interested in making a longer-term commitment.
Setting a New Financial Bar for NFL Cornerbacks
Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie set the bar at the position when he signed a four-year, $124 million deal this offseason. Trent McDuffie is currently the league’s highest-paid cornerback, having signed a four-year, $124 million pact with the Rams after Los Angeles traded for him. That would mean, according to Kraft, the deal the two sides are working on exceeds $31 million in average annual salary.
A recent report indicated that Gonzalez’s negotiations have been complicated by the Seahawks’ ongoing talks with Devon Witherspoon. The cornerbacks share an agent and Witherspoon, who is also shooting for the top of the market for corners, is reportedly closer to an agreement.
Mike Vrabel Confirms Full Camp Participation
The Patriots head coach sounded optimistic about a deal getting done between Gonzalez and the team. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had to take the podium Friday morning at the New Balance Athletic Center to once again field questions about Gonzalez’s lack of a new contract, and how it’ll impact his training camp. Well, Vrabel confirmed to reporters that Gonzalez did in fact report to camp and — in what should be taken as a positive sign — he will even “participatein practice. So we're not looking at a classic holdout situation, and possibly not even a
hold-in,” as in he’s there but he’s not on the field much or at all. It sounds like Gonzalez will be on the field as the talks continue.
“Those contract negotiations are ongoing between the club and his agents,” Vrabel said, “and “I’m excited about having Christian back here with us and
Mike Vrabel, Patriots Head Coach
True to reporting, Gonzalez wasted no time getting to work. Gonzalez was a full participant in Saturday’s practice, a positive development after he minimally participated in mandatory minicamp. The young superstar reported to training camp Friday, and on Saturday fully participated in practice, per local reporters. It seems it’s only a matter of time before Gonzalez sets a new contractual bar for corners — and other Patriots — to aim for. Brown, the two nearly connected on a highlight-reel play to open practice, but Brown couldn’t complete the one-handed grab. Legendary wideout DeAndre Hopkins was in attendance to work with Brown and the receiver group.
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