Patriots Predicted to Make Christian Gonzalez Highest-Paid CB in NFL History

Gonzalez, a former first-round pick in 2023 (No. 17 overall) is entering the third year of his $15.1 million rookie contract. The Patriots will have the right next summer to exercise a team option on a fifth season for Gonzalez in 2027 at an as of yet undetermined price, which is all but a lock to happen considering the cornerback's production in the 20 games he's started through two seasons. 

However, Gonzalez will also be extension eligible next summer. History suggests that it would behoove New England to ink him to a new contract as soon as possible, as annual average salaries at all premier positions tend to increase with each passing year, coinciding with spikes in the league-wide salary cap and new contracts on other teams consistently resetting the high financial watermarks for elite players. 

NFL analysts and salary cap gurus are already projecting that Gonzalez will become the next highest-paid defensive back in league history next summer, though general terms are now starting to take the form of actual numbers -- and those numbers are substantial.

"PREDICT: What #Patriots star cornerback Christian Gonzalez' contract extension will be next offseason...?" MLFootball posted to its X account on Monday, June 2. "[Four] years, $130 million dollar deal ... $32.5 per year. ✍️ ✍️ ✍️"

That specific contract would render Gonzalez the richest cornerback ever in the NFL based on both total value and annual average salary. Derek Stingley Jr. of the Houston Texans is currently the leader in AAV at $30 million annually over three years, per Over The Cap, while Jaycee Horn of the Carolina Panthers owns the highest total contract value at $100 million across a four-year deal. 

Gonzalez earned Second-Team All-Pro honors last season with 11 passes defensed, two interceptions and a fumble return for a touchdown across 16 starts following a rookie season cut short by injury to just four games played.