Christian Gonzalez unlikely to participate in OTAs under current Patriots contract

Christian Gonzalez was noticeably absent from Patriots voluntary OTAs this week, and that isn’t a coincidence.

The nook is eligible for an extension, and isn’t prone to swimsuit up till a deal will get finished, in keeping with NBC Sports activities Boston’s Tom Curran. Gonzalez is barely set to make $4 million this season on his rookie contract, regardless of being an All-Professional and Professional Bowler in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

“He isn’t going to play for $4 million,” Curran stated. “He must be making 32-35 million {dollars} a 12 months. He isn’t going to take a rep in anger till he’s being paid commensurate to what he has to do.”

Meaning Gonzalez is doubtlessly on holdout watch if negotiations linger into the beginning of coaching camp.

It’s additionally value noting New England lately restructured the contract of veteran guard Mike Onwenu, clearing cap area for 2026 by changing a few of Onwenu’s wage right into a signing bonus. The Patriots weren’t precisely up towards the cap even earlier than the transfer, in order that they now have elevated flexibility to get Gonzalez prolonged, even when in addition they wind up taking up A.J. Brown’s contract in a closely rumored potential commerce with the Eagles.

Gonzalez has been a stellar addition to New England’s secondary since he was drafted within the first spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft. His rookie marketing campaign confirmed promise, however was ended abruptly because of a shoulder harm. The previous two seasons have lived as much as that rookie hype, as Gonzalez has transcended into the higher echelon of NFL cornerbacks.

New England can be because of pay each him and Drake Maye quickly, because the pair are far outperforming their rookie offers already.

When it comes to what the Patriots could expect to pay, the Rams actually didn’t do them any favors by making Trent McDuffie the highest-paid nook within the NFL this offseason at 4 years, $124 million. Gonzalez is arguably a greater nook than McDuffie, or on the very least is on the identical tier of participant, so he can leverage that contract towards New England in negotiations.

One other related comparability to Gonzalez could be Patrick Surtain’s 4-year, $96 million deal that he signed in 2024. Nonetheless, that may be a discount charge for Gonzalez at this level given how shortly the market shifted during the last two years.

When Gonzalez does lastly swimsuit up for the Patriots is anyone’s guess, however followers shouldn’t anticipate to see him till his extension is finished, or a minimum of shut.