The New England Patriots had one of the more intriguing offseasons after making the Super Bowl last season. They were able to replace wide receiver Stefon Diggs by trading for AJ Brown as their biggest move. However, they have some in-house issues as players are looking for an extension off the outstanding season. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and why the Patriots should be looking to get this extension done immediately.
The New England Patriots need to extend Christian Gonzalez this offseason
Dec 1, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) warms up before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report wrote an article discussing each team’s most important contract extension they need to work on before the regular season begins. For the New England Patriots, he selected star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, and wrote the following snippet:
“According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Gonzalez skipped the team’s voluntary spring workouts, a departure from his participation in previous years. Although he avoided fines by showing up to mandatory minicamp, the Patriots should make a concerted effort to sign him to a long-term extension. Only 23, Gonzalez is coming off his first Pro Bowl campaign, allowing just two touchdowns and a 79.9 passer rating in 14 outings.”
Being arguably the most important player on the defensive side of the football for the New England Patriots, they are in a position to lock Gonzalez up for the future. Quarterback Drake Maye is entering his third season, so there are two more years of his contract before the fifth-year option can be used. Keeping Gonzalez while the quarterback is still on his rookie deal is critical.
According to Over The Cap, the New England Patriots have the sixth-most available cap space for the 2026 season, tallying more than $34.7 million remaining. They can easily lock in Gonzalez to an extension for the next few years before having to worry about paying other premium positions. Gonzalez was a second-team All-Pro in 2024 and made the Pro Bowl last year, so he has shown the ability to dominate on the field.
With Gonzalez showing he is willing to miss part of the offseason workouts, although voluntary, the New England Patriots should be willing to avoid any extra media attention before the season starts. It will be intriguing to see if they are able to lock down Gonzalez before Week 1 kicks off in a few months.