New England Patriots
“He deserves his pay day for sure.”
Christian Gonzalez could sign an extension with the Patriots this offseason. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
February 10, 2026 | 2:16 PM
2 minutes to read
The New England Patriots didn’t make enough plays — especially on the offensive side of the ball — to beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
Star cornerback Christian Gonzalez was at least up to the task against Sam Darnold and an explosive Seattle offense.
Gonzalez finished Sunday’s loss at Levi’s Stadium with three pass breakups, two of which might have taken away touchdowns for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed in an eventual 29-13 loss.
Gonzalez’s performance was a bright spot in an otherwise brutal end to New England’s 2025 season — the type of performance on the big stage that will get the 23-year-old defensive back paid this offseason.
Gonzalez is still under contract with New England as 2026 will mark the final year of his rookie contract with the team. The Patriots can also exercise the fifth-year option on Gonzalez’s deal, pushing his free-agency window to 2028.
But this offseason offers the first chance for the Patriots to formally extend Gonzalez with a new contract — one that could make him one of the highest-paid corners in the NFL.
It’s a scenario that Gonzalez would welcome if New England decides to open up its checkbook.
“Oh, yeah, no doubt,” Gonzalez told reporters, including Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, of potentially signing an extension in New England this offseason. “This is where I got drafted, and I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
Gonzalez, who earned Second Team All-Pro honors in 2024, played his best football during New England’s run to Super Bowl LX.
Beyond his stout play against Seattle, Gonzalez closed out New England’s four-game postseason slate with seven pass breakups — and seven catches allowed.
Entering Super Bowl LX, Gonzalez only allowed a 39.3 percent completion percentage during his first three playoff games — the lowest percentage allowed by a player with 25+ targets since at least 2018, per Next Gen Stats.
Several young corners have reset the market in the last year with contract extensions. Prior to trading him to the Colts this season, the Jets signed Sauce Gardner to a four-year, $120.4 million contract in July.
In March, Houston signed Derek Stingley Jr. to a three-year, $90 million extension as well, with $89 million in guaranteed cash.
Despite the sizable sum of whatever contract Gonzalez will eventually ink on his next deal, he declined to get into specifics about what he’s looking for in a new contract.
“I’m not really trying to get into all of that. I mean, it’s kind of more my agents, they’ll deal with that and keep me up to speed on it,” Gonzalez told Callahan. “Coming in today, I just wanted to see the guys, hang out with them a couple more times. I mean, it’s the last time this full team, coaching staff will be in the building. So focus on that. My agents and [Mike Vrabel] and all, they’ll talk.”
Count fellow Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis among those who hope that Gonzalez signs on the dotted line sooner rather than later.
“Oh for sure. It could be any day now,” Davis said of a potential Gonzalez extension. “I’m so happy for him. So proud of him. … One of the best corners in the league right now. He deserves his pay day for sure.”
Carlton Davis says Christian Gonzalez deserves his pay day:
“Oh for sure. It could be any day now. I’m so happy for him. So proud of him… one of the best corners in the league right now. He deserves his pay day for sure.”
–@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/ZjeC2B5GGI
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) February 10, 2026
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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