The New England Patriots are still, of course, taking some time to recover from the walloping they took from the Seahawks in Super Bowl 60. but once the cobwebs are shaken out, the team will certainly have a chance to look at its situation and be rather satisfied. The Pats were 14-3 this year, 17-4 if the playoffs are included. For a franchise that won 16 total games in the past three seasons, that’s an undeniable step forward.
But the Patriots do not want the success of 2025 turn into mediocrity in 2026. It’s a distinct possibility, because New England is now fighting complacency, along with a much more difficult schedule to come and all the many pitfalls that make one-year wonders fade quickly.
This is a critical offseason, as the Patriots must be aggressive in keeping in place the pieces it likes–and equally aggressive in replacing those it doesn’t like. But one piece that the Patriots are very happy to have and will move quickly to secure is the one guy who came out of the Super Bowl loss on Sunday with a better reputation than he had when he went in: cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Patriots Will Pick Up Fifth-Year Option
Gonzalez, remember, was something of a source of frustration early in the season, when he sat out for much of training camp and the first three weeks of the season with a hamstring problem that lingered longer than expected. Once he was back in the Patriots lineup, he took a bit of time to ramp up, but by the end of the year, it was clear he was one of the best, most stifling corners in the game.
Now, Gonzalez is up for some money. He is entering his fourth season, which means the Patriots must decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option this spring. That’s worth $17.5 million, a hefty number for a defensive back. It’s a no-brainer for the Patriots, too, because Gonzalez will command a lot more than that in his extension.
Gonzalez does not put up big interception numbers–he had none this year, and has three in his career. But he does not get many opportunities. He gives up a passer rating of just 77.3 in his career, so quarterbacks avoid him.
Christian Gonzalez to Get $120 Million
In fact, on “The Spotrac Podcast,” NFL contract guru Mike Ginnitti noted that both Super Bowl teams–the Patriots and the Seahawks–have a standout corner in need of a new deal. It’s Devon Witherspoon for Seattle, and Gonzalez for the Patriots.
Both should get deals in the Sauce Gardner range–four years and $120.4 million.
Said Ginnitti: “Both extension-eligible. Both fifth-year option eligible. Slam-dunk exercises. It’s about $20 million for both. They’re going to sit down and it’s going to be Sauce Gardner’s contract which was four for a little over a $120 million. That’s just the going rate. These are shut-down guys who aren’t going to have stats that pop off the page,” Ginnitti said.
“With Gonzalez, you’re going to look at the numbers and say, ‘What the hell, this guy barely intercepts a pass.’ Well, he also doesn’t get passes thrown to him and if you don’t think that’s worth money, OK, that’s exactly what it’s worth. That’s what makes him uber-valued. When they do throw at him, he shuts it down. And when they don’t throw to him, it is because they’re afraid to throw it his way.”
Patriots Poised to Make $120 Million Move on 23-Year-Old Star