The price for the top NFL cornerbacks already rose this offseason. It could again with another contract extension for a cornerback this offseason. It’s in the best interest of the New England Patriots to make that a contract for Christian Gonzalez.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox argued Sunday that the Patriots “may race,” ironically, the Seattle Seahawks in a contract situation this offseason. Both teams have cornerbacks from the 2023 draft class ready for massive extensions.
Each fourth-year defender is likely to top what the Los Angeles Rams agreed to pay cornerback Trent McDuffie. But, if Devon Witherspoon gets his deal from the Seahawks before Gonzalez, the Patriots will probably have to beat that deal too.
“The Los Angeles Rams traded for Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie in March, then immediately signed him to a four-year, $124 million extension. That deal made McDuffie the highest-paid defensive back in league history, and will pay him $900,000 more annually than any other cornerback,” wrote Knox.
“New England’s Christian Gonzalez can make a strong case for topping McDuffie’s deal…
“The problem for New England is that McDuffie’s contract might not be the only cornerback deal it needs to top, depending on when it signs Gonzalez. Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon was also drafted in 2023 and also just helped to lead a Super Bowl run—one that ended with a championship.”
In three NFL seasons, Gonzalez has posted 145 combined tackles, 24 pass defenses and three interceptions. During 2024, he made second-team All-Pro. Gonzalez earned his first Pro Bowl nomination in 2025.
Projecting Contract Extension for Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez
Ultimately, Knox predicted the Patriots to win the potential race he described. The Bleacher Report analyst projected New England to ink Gonzalez to a 4-year, $125 million contract.
For Witherspoon, Knox predicted a 4-year, $125.5 million deal in Seattle.
A $500,000 difference seems to suggest that the winner of the race doesn’t really matter much. But it’s not clear that whichever team comes in second will only play half a million more for its cornerback. It’s possible the price tag difference could be millions more.
Gonzalez and Witherspoon will forever be linked as first-round cornerbacks in the same draft class. Witherspoon went at No. 5 overall while the Patriots picked Gonzalez at No. 17.
Witherspoon has received more accolades through three seasons than Gonzalez. Witherspoon has earned a Pro Bowl nomination in all three of his campaigns. Last season, he also made second-team All-Pro.
At Pro Football Focus, Witherspoon has also posted superior grades.
But Gonzalez has been elite as well. In 2025, he registered 10 pass defenses with 69 combined tackles. Gonzalez earned a 75 overall PFF grade, which ranked second among cornerbacks from the 2023 draft class.
In tackling, Gonzalez fared better than Witherspoon, according to PFF, during 2025.
Patriots Exercised Gonzalez’s Fifth-Year Option
At the beginning of May, New England picked up the fifth year of the cornerback’s rookie contract. That will give Gonzalez a $18.119 million salary in 2027.
This season, the cornerback is still very affordable. Gonzalez will earn about a $2.25 million base salary and possess roughly a $4.8 million cap hit on the fourth year of his rookie deal.
With Gonzalez under contract through 2027, the Patriots have time to extend their top cornerback. But as Knox explained, a new deal sooner rather than later is better.
Down the road, the Patriots will also have to sign quarterback Drake Maye to a new deal. But Maye is potentially under contract through 2028, and New England has about $36 million remaining in cap space this offseason.
The team could conceivably sign Gonzalez to an extension at any time.
Patriots ‘Race’ With Seahawks Set to Impact Christian Gonzalez Extension: Analyst