Patriots, Gonzalez ‘not in same neighborhood’ in talks 

Christian Gonzalez’s ongoing contract negotiations with the Patriots have loomed over New England throughout the offseason and into training camp. 

And even with the start of the NFL regular season less than two weeks away, it doesn’t appear as though both the Patriots and the star cornerback are any closer to bridging the gap on a hefty new contract extension. 

Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN Thursday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter offered up another discouraging update on the state of negotiations between New England and Gonzalez. 

Even after Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon seemingly reset the market for star corners after signing a four-year, $132 million contract earlier this month, that new benchmark hasn’t moved the needle on what the Patriots are willing to offer Gonzalez, according to Schefter. 

“I don’t think that at any one point here that they’ve been close to a deal,” Schefter said. “And Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez have the same agent. So in a way, he can kind of dictate how this is going to go and see into the future in a better way than each of the two teams can. 

“So Witherspoon was going to get done first, and it got done at an average of 33 [million] a year. The Patriots have not been in that category, but Witherspoon has established the benchmark, and the Patriots haven’t gone there, and they weren’t there before, and they don’t appear to be going there right now, and they’re off on the two sides of money.” 

Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf raised a few eyebrows on Tuesday when he acknowledged a “cash budget” when it comes to Gonzalez’s new deal — especially with Drake Maye due to sign an inevitable mega-deal next season. 

But, Schefter also noted that Mike Vrabel might place more value on defensive players in the trenches, rather than an elite cover corner like Gonzalez. 

“I kind of think Mike Vrabel views defensive linemen and getting pressure as the most important thing on a defense,” Schefter said. “Like he prioritizes that. Loves corners, of course, and he knows that Christian Gonzalez is a great player. But if we’re going to pay players premiums like up front, that’s something I think that’s been important to him in the past. I think they want to pay Christian Gonzalez. But they’re obviously not in the same neighborhood right now and haven’t been. Thus, his disappointment.” 

Gonzalez was candid on Tuesday when speaking to reporters about his exasperation over not having a deal in place at this stage of the preseason. 

“I mean, it’s frustrating, but I mean, I’m focused on the season,” Gonzalez said. “I’m focused on here now and doing what I got to do, and I’m out here to compete and get better.”

The Patriots still have some runway left to try and get a deal done before Week 1 against Witherspoon and the Seahawks on Sept. 9. But, things could get ugly if New England still doesn’t get to the finish line once the calendar flips to the regular season. 

“Okay, so what happens? Well, I think that there’s probably another push before the season begins, or at the start of the season, from both sides to try to get done,” Schefter said. “That’s my guess, because he’s too good a player not to try to get something done, and they’re too smart not to try to get something done, and the numbers are there. 

“But if they can’t get something done? That just makes me wonder — like, where is it going in the future? What happens then? Do they wait until after the season? Can they do anything then? Would they even be willing to listen to potential trades for him after the year? Like, is that a possibility down the line? I think it opens up a whole range of options if they don’t have this deal done at the start of the season or a couple of weeks into the season.” 

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.