Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez wants a contract extension. That’s why he stayed away from the voluntary offseason program.
Gonzalez, though, is attending the mandatory minicamp this week.
“I hope we get something done,” Gonzalez said Tuesday, via Mike Reiss of ESPN. “I’ve said this multiple times: I’ve been drafted here; I want to be rewarded as a Patriot. I love this city. So of course I want to be here.”
Agent Reggie Johnson represents Gonzalez and Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who is also eligible for a contract extension for the first time. Trent McDuffie recently signed a deal with the Rams averaging $31 million annually.
Gonzalez would not say whether he would play this season under his current contract, which will pay him a base salary of $2.259 million.
“We have a long time to the season. We’re still pretty early in the offseason,” Gonzalez said. “I’m focused on being here for the team, fulfill my role and what I’m here for this week, and focus on that.”
Gonzalez, the 17th overall pick in 2023, made second-team All-Pro in 2024 and the Pro Bowl in 2025. He has totaled 145 tackles, two interceptions, 24 pass breakups and a sack in three seasons.
A.J. Brown has not been a member of the Patriots for too long. But he’s getting more integrated into his new surroundings.
Head coach Mike Vrabel said on Tuesday that things have been going “good” for Brown since he arrived.
“I think the weekend probably served him well to be able to take a deep breath and get some rest,” Vrabel said in his press conference, via transcript from the team. “I am sure it has been a whirlwind for him, but he is excited about learning the system and eventually moving around and doing different things.
“I think it has been great just having him around and continuing to integrate himself into our football team.”
The Patriots are going through mandatory minicamp this week. The club will start training camp the week of July 24.
The Patriots kicked off their only mandatory work of the offseason on Tuesday and cornerback Christian Gonzalez was among the players who reported for minicamp.
Gonzalez skipped the voluntary portions of the offseason program while he looks for a contract extension ahead of his fourth season in New England. Head coach Mike Vrabel said last week that he expected Gonzalez to be at the minicamp and he was on the field with the team when they went out for practice.
Vrabel said on Tuesday that there is nothing to report on the contract front, but that all of his interactions with the corner have been positive to this point.
“Good. Conversations have been great,” Vrabel said, via a transcript from the team. “I talked to him about his event last week. I talked to him about normal things that we talk about. It is good to have everybody back in here that either was here last week or that was not. It is just good to have an almost complete football team here. I am excited to keep working.”
Gonzalez is not expected to do much actual work during the minicamp. The next question will be how much work he does at training camp if the two sides aren’t able to reach agreement on a long-term deal by the time in starts next month.
Throughout the offseason, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has had to field questions about A.J. Brown’s future with the team.
The saga will now be put to rest, as Brown has officially been traded to the Patriots.
Speaking to the media for the first time since the deal went down, Sirianni was complimentary of Brown’s time with Philadelphia. But he quickly pivoted to players who are currently on the team.
“I would say there was a lot of good years here, and done a lot of good things with AJ here — two times in the Super Bowl, I think he was [an] All-Pro multiple times, Pro Bowl multiple times,” Sirianni said. “So, I would say it was a good run.
“But, really excited about that room that we have. DeVonta Smith has had a really good offseason, has had five good years of being an Eagle as well. Very, very productive. And excited that he’s going to get extra opportunities that he works so hard to… that people convert that. Really excited about Makai and where he is this offseason and just his ability to catch the football, his toughness. I think that’s a great addition to that room.”
Sirianni continued on to mention Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, Darius Cooper, and Johnny Wilson by name.
As for Sirianni’s input on the trade itself, the head coach said he and General Manager Howie Roseman discuss everything.
“What a good teammate that I have with Howie Roseman to be able to go to battle with,” Sirianni said. “So many things that [Brown] did that [were] good for our football team and always will wish him the best of luck. But, like I said, really excited about the guys in that room and where we are. But this is a team game, to your question, and every decision that I make and decisions that Howie makes, we talk to each other about it.”
The Patriots are holding their mandatory minicamp this week, but one of their top picks from the 2026 draft is not taking part.
Head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters at a Tuesday press conference that second-round pick Gabe Jacas is not with the team. Jacas is not signed, but other draft picks who have yet to sign contracts with their teams have participated in offseason work after signing an injury protection waiver.
Vrabel declined to say why Jacas is not with the team this week, but did refer to the edge rusher having a medical procedure of some kind this offseason.
Jacas had 11 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss during his final season at Illinois.
