FOXBORO — Final thoughts from the Patriots’ three-day mandatory minicamp as the team heads into the summer …
#### 1\. Christian Gonzalez participated more than expected
Perhaps the two sides are playing nice.
Putting on for the public for a few days.
But if Christian Gonzalez wanted to put more pressure on the Patriots amid ongoing contract negotiations this week, he would have done less. He didn’t. Gonzalez ran through every drill and every period, excluding live 11-on-11s. Which, granted, means he did everything but play football, but entering minicamp, I was open to anything from Gonzalez, including a hold-in where he suited up and sat down all three days.
Because Gonzalez is a measured 23-year-old with a quiet edge and great pride. He is comfortable being uncomfortable. Just see any of a few interviews.
Doing what he did felt like a sensible compromise between Gonzalez and the team, which is exactly what it was, according to Mike Vrabel.
“That’s just something that Christian and I talked about, and making sure that the most important thing is that we’re on the same page, which we are,” Vrabel said Thursday.
#### 2\. Eyes on training camp eve
Remember Sauce Gardner.
Two years ago, the Jets extended an elite, homegrown cornerback of their own days before training camp. That four-year, $120.1 million contract made Gardner the highest-paid cornerback at the time by certain metrics (average annual value) and a top-5 by others (full guarantees). Another compromise.
Last November, the Jets traded him.
Now, the Jets and Patriots are obviously worlds apart. But Gardner’s case could be instructive for a few reasons, starting with the timing of his extension. The start of training camp sure feels like a soft deadline for extension talks, understanding Gonzalez cannot miss significant practice time and expect to perform as a true No. 1 cornerback come Week 1 (see: the rust he shook off returning from a summer injury last September and October). Plus, a real hold-in would risk an increasing distraction, and it stands to reason Gonzalez will sit out live team drills this summer since he did so this spring.
So, on the eve of training camp, keep an eye on No. 0.
Second, even if Gonzalez signs an extension and ranks among the best players under 25 teams would most want under long-term control, there’s no guarantee he stays in New England through the length of his next deal. Follow the money.
The Patriots just shelled a lot of cash to acquire A.J. Brown, now the highest-paid player for 2026 at $29 million. Before Brown, only two players in Patriots history earned more cash in a single season. Brown will soon want, and likely warrant, his own extension with only $4 million guaranteed to him next year.
Next spring, Drake Maye will also notably be eligible for an extension, which in light of Patrick Mahomes’ new deal, could push Maye’s contract into the neighborhood of $65-70 million per year. So are the Patriots, who ranked dead last in cash spending from 2014-2023, according to ESPN, suddenly willing to pay top-of-the-market deals at three premium positions all at once?
In the Brown trade, the Patriots also surrendered their 2028 first-round pick, a selection they could recoup in a hypothetical Gonzalez trade next year because the Jets landed two first-rounders when they dealt Gardner last season. This is not to advocate for a Gonzalez trade in the name of saving a few bucks. Not at all. Pay him. Pay them all.
It’s to say if the Patriots come to believe they can’t extend Gonzalez at a number they find palatable, the franchise tag is not their only option. They could give a little ground in negotiations now, extend Gonzalez and plan to offload him later, while they reshape their roster to brace for his eventual departure (drafting a cornerback on Day 1 or Day 2, signing extra pass rushers, etc.)
Because of all the premium positions — quarterback, wide receiver, pass rusher, offensive tackle and cornerback — analytics show cornerback performance is the least stable and predictive. Quarterbacks and receivers are more reliable year-to-year, and that’s why Brown might stick around instead, even if he’s five years older in the back nine of his prime.
#### 3\. Drake Maye at the line
I’ll have more on this in the coming days, but Maye’s development at the line of scrimmage may be the single-most important variable to the Patriots’ season aside from all of the annual staples (health, turnovers, luck, etc.)
Josh McDaniels and Co. successfully launched Maye for a Year 2 leap last season with a three-pronged development plan. This year, the focus is on system mastery to the point he can call, change or tweak any play at any time. It’s a large mental load for a third-year quarterback, but with the entire offense at his disposal, Maye should have all the answers.
The only questions are: can he find the right one regularly and bark it out in time?
#### 4\. A big bet on the edge
Vrabel admitted Wednesday the Patriots will likely add to their tight end room, following a season-ending injury to lead backup Julian Hill.
But asked Thursday about another shallow position, outside linebacker, he took a different stance.
“No, that’s a good group. I’m excited about adding Dre'(Mont Jones), the development of (Elijah) Ponder and (Bradyn) Swinson. We added (Jesse) Luketa and some young guys. Again, we’ll continue to try to look at every position and make it stronger, but that group has done a nice job,” he said.
Count me as doubtful.
Swinson couldn’t make the roster outright last summer, and was passed over by all 31 other teams on waivers. Luketa is a special teams-first (and perhaps only) player. The Patriots are essentially betting on two of the following: Harold Landry to repeat the production he had before a knee injury affected him from Week 6 on last year, second-round rookie Gabe Jacas (still unsigned) to break out or a blitz-first identity to carry their pass rush. Too risky for my liking. My bet would be on a midseason trade to add here for a playoff push.