FOXBORO — Prepared, set, signal.
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension heading into his fourth season and stated Tuesday he needs to stay in New England long-term.
“Oh, yeah, little question,” he stated throughout locker-room clean-out. “That is the place I obtained drafted, and I don’t wish to be anyplace else.”
Gonzalez is below contract by not less than subsequent season, if not 2027, pending a group choice written into his contract as a former first-round decide. Gonzalez is extensively thought-about the most effective cornerbacks within the league at simply 23 years outdated with a Professional Bowl and second-team All-Professional honor on his resume. Contract talks between his illustration and the Patriots’ entrance workplace ought to rely closely on current market exercise.
Earlier than buying and selling him final season, the Jets signed Sauce Gardner to the richest deal ever for a cornerback by whole {dollars} and common annual worth at $120.4 million over 4 years. Weeks earlier, the Texans inked Derek Stingley Jr. to a three-year, $90 million cope with $89 million assured, the richest cornerback contract ever by assured cash.
Gonzalez is barely youthful than Stingley was when he signed his deal, and youthful than Gardner was (25) on the time he obtained his contract extension. Whether or not he lands extra whole cash or assured {dollars}, Gonzalez might quickly develop into the brand new highest-paid nook within the league. On Tuesday, he declined to get into specifics of what he’s in search of.
“I’m probably not making an attempt to get into all of that. I imply, it’s sort of extra my brokers, they’ll cope with that and maintain me in control on it,” Gonzalez stated. “Coming in right now, I simply wished to see the fellows, hang around with them a pair extra instances. I imply, it’s the final time this full group, teaching employees can be within the constructing. So, (I) give attention to that.
“My brokers and (Mike Vrabel) and all, they’ll speak.”
Pats cornerback Carlton Davis vocalized his help for a Gonzalez extension Tuesday.
“I’m so completely satisfied for him, so pleased with him,” Davis stated. “He’s such an incredible child outdoors of soccer, which is extra essential. It exhibits on the sector. You may see it sport in and sport out. Tremendous pleased with him. The most effective corners within the league proper now. And he deserves his payday for certain.”
