Pats to exercise CB Christian Gonzalez's 5th-year option

The New England Patriots plan to exercise the fifth-year option for Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez, head coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday.

"Yes. If we haven't picked it up, we should pick it up," Vrabel told reporters at the league meetings in Phoenix.

"We want to make sure that we draft extremely well and then we identify the guys we want to keep. ... Gonzo's certainly one of those players."

The fifth-year option is worth a fully guaranteed $18.199 million in 2027 for Gonzalez, the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The money could be folded into a long-term extension, which the Patriots have identified as a top priority for this summer.

Gonzalez, 23, made the Pro Bowl last season after posting 69 tackles and 10 passes defensed in 14 starts. He has three interceptions, 24 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, one sack and 145 tackles in 34 career games (all starts).