Patriots, CB Christian Gonzalez Not Close To Extension Agreement

Gonzalez once seemed to be further ahead than Witherspoon in terms of getting a deal done, with the expectation existing that a Patriots agreement would be in place prior to Week 1. Instead, Seattle’s big-money cornerback pact has been lined up first. As for Gonzalez, Bleacher Report’s James Palmer notes it is “not a lock” a New England extension gets signed before the start of the season.

The top of the cornerback market reached $31MM per season when Trent McDuffie was extended upon arrival with the Rams. Witherspoon’s new Seahawks pact has moved the bar to $33MM in annual compensation, a figure Gonzalez will no doubt look to match or surpass (potentially by a wide margin). There is work to be done if that goal is to be attained, however. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, team and player have made little progress with respect to contract talks so far.

Gonzalez, 24, has drawn praise for his willingness to participate in most of training camp despite the fact negotiations are ongoing. The Pro Bowler was recently sidelined, though. Head coach Mike Vrabel said (via MassLive’s Karen Gurgegian) Gonzalez could be out of practice for “awhile” while dealing with an injury. All parties are on the same page in this case, Vrabel added.

That could prove beneficial if Gonzalez’s absence from the practice field lingers over the coming weeks. Contentious negotiations may very well result in this situation lingering into September, a situation team and player would surely prefer to avoid. On the other hand, the Patriots could afford to be patient in this case. Gonzalez is under team control through 2027 thanks to New England’s decision to pick up his fifth-year option.

The Seahawks took the same route with Witherspoon – another 2023 Day 1 CB selection – before ultimately striking a deal. It will be interesting to see if the Gonzalez front develops with more urgency moving forward. If a gap persists on the matter of financial terms, the chances of an extended practice absence will no doubt increase.