(Photo: Fox Sports)
It’s incredible to have football back, isn’t it? Week one of college football is in the books, and the NFL returns tomorrow. Last season was the best I’ve seen the New England Patriots look since 2019, which happened to be the final season Tom Brady played with the franchise. After that year, it was a struggle for them to win games and make the playoffs, but now, they are trending in the right direction once again. In all my years of watching the Patriots, they’ve always had that one standout defender that made everybody else around them better on that side of the football, such as Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork, and Mike Vrabel, who just so happens to be the Head Coach. In 2023, New England selected a Cornerback from Oregon named Christian Gonzalez with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the draft. After weeks of contractual discussions, Christian and the Patriots have finally come to an agreement! A four-year deal worth $135 million and $102 million in guaranteed money, which makes him the highest-paid Cornerback in the league.
Before his days at Oregon, Christian played his college ball at the University of Colorado. Since coming into the league, he has developed into one of the 3 best cornerbacks in the NFL. What I admire about Christian is that he always wants to be lined up against the opposing team’s number one Wide Receiver each and every week! Each and every Sunday, he’s looking to make the best possible play and backs up what he intends to do on a weekly basis. From a technical standpoint, Christian has become one of the best in the league, and he’s looking to make a play on the ball each time he steps on the field. He plays with such range, and receivers think they have a break on the ball, and in comes Christian, hovering around the football. Sometimes, he makes it look so effortless, and he’s able to move with those long strides and get to where he wants on the field. I think what I appreciate about Christian the most is that he’s versatile and isn’t just a cover corner. He allows New England to put its best corner on the island, as we say, against the number one receiver, and because of that, it allows the defense to play more aggressively everywhere else. Christian is a taller corner, standing at 6’2″, with long arms to jam and cover any receiver, from the possession guys to the slot. He’s so intelligent, with elite technique, and knows how to get his hands on guys and be physical at the line of scrimmage. Even against the run, his ability to find his way to the ball is so smooth. This is a corner that can do it all at the highest level.
After the Seahawks extended Devon Witherspoon, I remember saying the market has been set, and it was only a matter of time before the Patriots would extend number 0. As I was thinking of my thoughts on this, I realized New England has always had elite Defensive Backs. Ty Law, who’s a Hall of Famer, Asante Samuel was a solid corner in Foxboro for years, Darrelle Revis signed with them in 2014, and he’s a Hall of Famer, Stephon Gilmore became the only Patriot ever to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, and now, this kid has his time to shine. Christian earned this contract extension.
