Christian

Gonzalez

“These are my guys,” Gonzalez said. “It’s hard to sit and just watch. I like to be out on the field. This is what I love to do. At the end of the day, I’ve got to get better for myself and for the team. I’m focused on being here at training camp right now, taking it day-by-day, and see where it goes.” Gonzalez has (per Robert Kraft) been offered a top of the market amount for a cornerback. We’ll see where this goes, but it’s great news for the Pats that Gonzalez isn’t holding in.

The number to beat is $31 million. That’s the highest average annual value currently at the cornerback position and it comes from Rams CB Trent McDuffie’s four-year, $124 million extension that included $100 million guaranteed. Gonzalez, who was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time last year, is aiming for a contract in that range. He reported to mandatory minicamp earlier this offseason, but didn’t participate in drills. Gonzalez was spotted at Patriots training camp on Saturday. While he doesn’t officially have a new contract quite yet, negotiations appear to be coming to an end. Kraft stated that the team hopes to have Gonzalez, who turned 24 last month, for a long time.

Vrabel was noncommittal about whether Gonzalez would participate in practice, instead saying he “would expect him to participate.” The fourth-year corner is in the midst of contract negotiations and could reset the cornerback market when he eventually agrees to an extension. Gonzalez reported to mandatory minicamp earlier this offseason but did not participate in full team drills, and there’s been some speculation he could opt to hold in at camp while waiting for a new deal. The Patriots will take the practice field for the first time on Saturday, whether or not Gonzalez joins them in full capacity will be something to watch for.

The Seahawks have “made an extraordinary effort” to sign Witherspoon before training camp, per Rapoport. The deal would “almost certainly” make Witherspoon the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL and Rapoport said $32 million a season would be the new benchmark and he’d be surprised if the deal wasn’t around there. Sounds like there’s a chance this deal is knocked out sooner rather than later, and obviously if and when it does get done, Christian Gonzalez of the Patriots will be next in line to get his own record-setting extension.

Reiss believes Gonzalez “might have been sending a message to the team this spring” by sitting out the majority of the voluntary program and participating only in “the lower-speed/lower-tempo parts of mandatory minicamp.” We think Reiss is probably onto something here. Gonzalez turned 24 today and has already earned one second-team All-Pro nod and Pro Bowl honors, and is under team control for two more years after his fifth-year option was picked up this offseason. It’s in Gonzalez’s best interests to do whatever he can to get an extension now, so a hold-in would not be a surprising result.

The Patriots hosted two OTA sessions last week, one of which was open to reporters. Gonzalez was not present. Reiss notes that Gonzalez “had participated in the team’s voluntary offseason program each of the prior three seasons.” His absence “coincides with this offseason marking the first time Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension.” The Patriots exercised Gonzalez’s fifth-year option late in April, keeping him under contract through 2027. Rumors that both sides have been working on an extension have been swirling. Until Gonzalez misses mandatory work, this probably doesn’t mean much — but this is a sign that he could opt to skip mandatory work while his contract situation plays out.

Gonzalez will get a one-year, $18.1 million deal for 2027. The Patriots have reportedly been in extension talks with him at various points this offseason, so while nothing has gotten done yet, it’s certainly likely to be a point of discussion ahead of the season. New England’s No. 1 corner has developed into one of the best in the NFL in his first three seasons with the club.

Gonzalez was removed from the Patriots’ injury report on Friday following his Wild Card Round concussion and subsequent placement in the league’s concussion protocol. He’ll join a solid New England secondary going against a Texans offense that will be without Nico Collins (concussion). Patriots declared CB Kobee Minor, LB Bradyn Swinson, OT Marcus Bryant, DT Eric Gregory, G Caedan Wallace, TE CJ Dippre, and QB Tommy DeVito inactive against Houston.

Mike Vrabel said Gonzalez would be questionable before practice, but he cleared protocol and will officially suit up against the Texans on Sunday. The star cornerback is one of New England’s best players and it’s great news for their defense that he’ll not miss any time after leaving Sunday’s win over the Chargers with a concussion.

Gonzalez was a full participant yesterday and will likely be a full participant in practice today. We’d suspect he’s on the optimistic side of questionable to play against the Texans on Sunday, but concussion protocols can be tricky and there’s probably a small chance he sits out still.