New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft went public Saturday with news that the team has presented cornerback Christian Gonzalez with a contract extension offer that would set a new record for the highest-paid cornerback in the entire NFL.
Kraft chose not to disclose the exact financial terms of the proposed deal, making the announcement on the first day of the team’s training camp.
“We love Christian Gonzalez,” Kraft said at the team’s Pawtriots pet adoption event, according to the Boston Herald. “We love him as a player, as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.”
Kraft added, “So we’re glad we drafted him and we developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”
Gonzalez is now eligible to sign an extension for the first time, having been selected by New England with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The current benchmark for cornerback salaries belongs to the Los Angeles Rams’ Trent McDuffie, who is earning $31 million per season under a four-year, $131 million deal he agreed to this offseason.
The 24-year-old Gonzalez earned a Pro Bowl selection last season after recording 69 tackles and defending 10 passes in 14 starts. Over his career spanning 34 games — all starts — he has tallied 145 tackles, 24 passes defensed, three interceptions, one sack, and one fumble recovery.
