Christian Gonzalez contract offer would make Patriots history, Kraft says
Robert Kraft says the Patriots have offered Christian Gonzalez a record cornerback deal as training camp opens in Foxborough.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Robert Kraft says the Christian Gonzalez contract offer on the table from the New England Patriots would make the Pro Bowl cornerback the highest-paid player ever at his position and the richest contract in team history.
Kraft discussed the talks Saturday morning in Foxborough before the Patriots held their first practice of training camp, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. The owner said New England values Gonzalez both as a player and as a person, and that the offer reflects the team’s hopes of keeping him long term.
ESPN reported that Gonzalez and the Patriots have been working on a long-term deal in recent months. No completed agreement was announced in the report, and the exact value of New England’s proposal was not disclosed.
During early practice drills Saturday, Kraft went up to Gonzalez and the two shook hands, ESPN reported.
What is the Christian Gonzalez contract offer?
Kraft said the Patriots have made Gonzalez an offer that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. He also said the proposal would be the largest contract ever given by the Patriots franchise.
The current top of the cornerback market is already north of $30 million per year, according to ESPN. The report pointed to Trent McDuffie’s four-year, $124 million deal signed in March as the benchmark at the position.
Gonzalez is entering his fourth NFL season. New England selected him in the first round of the 2023 draft with the No. 17 overall pick, and ESPN noted this is the first offseason in which he can sign an extension.
He still has two years left on his rookie contract. ESPN reported that Gonzalez is due a base salary of $2.259 million this season.
Vrabel says talks are still going
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said the negotiations remain active between the team and Gonzalez’s representatives, according to ESPN.
Vrabel also said he is glad to have Gonzalez with the team and praised the impact he can have on the roster, while acknowledging the business part of the situation as camp begins.
ESPN reported that Gonzalez has the same agent as Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who is also newly eligible for an extension and is expected to seek a top-tier deal.
Vrabel said he did not see the two situations as connected, according to ESPN. He said the Patriots are dealing with Gonzalez’s representatives, not Seattle, and framed the matter as part of New England’s communication with its own player.
For the Patriots, the message from ownership is clear enough: they drafted Gonzalez, watched him develop in New England and are now willing, by Kraft’s account, to put a franchise-record offer in front of him.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.