The New England Patriots fell in Super Bowl 60, but it was not the fault of top cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Gonzalez played well in the 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, allowing three completions for 36 yards with three pass breakups on seven targets. It can even be argued that the dynamic pass disruptor kept New England in the game until the Seahawks pulled away with 17 points in the fourth quarter.
The performance capped off a solid third season in the NFL for Gonzalez, who allowed 45 catches for 482 yards with a touchdown, an interception, and 10 pass breakups on 101 targets between the regular season and playoffs, according to Pro Football Focus. Because of those numbers, Gonzalez has developed into a true shutdown corner, making it obvious that the Patriots must lock him down sooner rather than later.
Christian Gonzalez’s Contract Extension Should Be a Top Priority for Patriots This Offseason
Gonzalez’s contract won’t be cheap, but it’s worth it for a player who has improved each year since the Patriots selected him with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 draft.
After his rookie season was cut short by a torn labrum and dislocated right shoulder, Gonzalez rebounded to allow 46 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions and seven pass breakups in 2024. While he missed time at the beginning of this season with a hamstring injury, he rebounded to be an impact player during New England’s Super Bowl run and is in a prime position to get paid.
The question may not be whether the Patriots are interested in offering Gonzalez a long-term extension, but rather how much it will be. Gonzalez’s numbers are valid for a No. 1 corner, but his injury history, which has seen him miss at least one game in each of his first three seasons, could give the Patriots hesitation.
Another factor is the rising cost of top corners in the NFL. Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner set the market with a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension with the New York Jets last July before he was later traded to the Indianapolis Colts. However, Gonzalez’s 58.3 passer rating when targeted was significantly lower than Gardner’s 99.0 rating, and Gonzalez made more plays on the ball with 10 pass breakups and an interception compared to Gardner’s eight pass breakups without an interception.
It’s also important to note that Gardner had only 36 targets to Gonzalez’s 101, so there were more opportunities involved. But Gonzalez has a valid case compared to the other players on the list including Derek Stingley Jr. of the Houston Texans (three years, $90 million signed last summer), Jaycee Horn of the Carolina Panthers (four years, $100 million signed last summer) and Patrick Surtain of the Denver Broncos (four years, $96 million signed in 2024).
With $42.7 million in cap space entering the offseason, the Patriots have the resources to get an extension done. It’s just a matter of how much Gonzalez will ask for, as his performance has earned the right to a big deal.