The New England Patriots are looking to add to a roster that made the Super Bowl in the first year of the Mike Vrabel era. While a lot of the focus will come on the offensive end, a potential extension for cornerback Christian Gonzalez should be one of their priorities.
The NFL released the price tag for fifth-year options for 2023 first-round picks, and cornerbacks come in at $18.1 million for those who have been selected to one Pro Bowl. And that number is higher than the third and fourth criteria, which are $13.6 million and $12.6 million, respectively.
With the Patriots having two more years of team control with Gonzalez, they may not feel the pressure to give him an extension now. However, based on how Gonzalez has looked through his NFL career thus far, coupled with other deals that will need to be negotiated in the not-so-distant future, they are better off hammering out a new deal this offseason.
Patriots Are Better Off Extending Christian Gonzalez This Offseason
The Patriots have until May 1 to decide if they want to pick up his fifth-year option, and that will be an easy decision for this organization, being an overwhelming yes. But with Drake Maye still on his rookie deal, the Patriots must capitalize over the next few seasons to craft the best roster possible with the quarterback making a minimal amount.
Entering this offseason, New England has $40 million in cap space before ballooning to $103 million in 2027. Next offseason, guys like Mike Onwenu, Hunter Henry, and Kayshon Boutte will hit free agency. There's no reason to wait to give Gonzalez an extension, especially after the season he had.
In 2025, he finished with 69 total tackles and 10 pass deflections. According to Pro Football Focus, he notched an overall grade of 65.8 and a coverage grade of 68.4. He allowed 498 receiving yards and just one touchdown in coverage throughout the campaign, helping lead New England to a division title.
Gonzalez has the speed, length, and awareness to shadow and lock down the opposing team's No. 1 WR. In the Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks, he held Jaxon Smith-Njigba to four catches on 10 targets for 27 yards. Meanwhile, Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards last season, earning First-team All-Pro honors and won NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
This is just one example of how elite Gonzalez is and how he can directly lock down the best receiver on the other side. Gonzalez will likely seek to become the highest-paid cornerback in the league. Indianapolis Colts corner Sauce Gardner holds that title, earning $30.1 million per year, with his total contract value being $120.4 million.
The Washington product would likely want to take that title from him, and New England would be wise to lock down one of their best players instead of waiting and allowing the price to increase.
Spotrac projects Gonzalez's market value is a three-year, $80 million extension ($27 million annually). That would make New England's decision that much easier. Regardless, the Patriots should get ahead and extend Gonzalez rather than playing the long game.