FOXBORO — Ready, set, sign.
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension heading into his fourth season and said Tuesday he wants to remain in New England long-term.
“Oh, yeah, no doubt,” he said during locker-room clean-out. “This is where I got drafted, and I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
Gonzalez is under contract through at least next season, if not 2027, pending a team option written into his contract as a former first-round pick. Gonzalez is widely considered one of the best cornerbacks in the league at just 23 years old with a Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honor on his resume. Contract talks between his representation and the Patriots’ front office should rely heavily on recent market activity.
Before trading him last season, the Jets signed Sauce Gardner to the richest deal ever for a cornerback by total dollars and average annual value at $120.4 million over four years. Weeks earlier, the Texans inked Derek Stingley Jr. to a three-year, $90 million deal with $89 million guaranteed, the richest cornerback contract ever by guaranteed money.
Gonzalez is slightly younger than Stingley was when he signed his deal, and younger than Gardner was (25) at the time he received his contract extension. Whether he lands more total money or guaranteed dollars, Gonzalez could soon become the new highest-paid corner in the league. On Tuesday, he declined to get into specifics of what he’s seeking.
“I’m not really trying to get into all of that. I mean, it’s kind of more my agents, they’ll deal with that and keep me up to speed on it,” Gonzalez said. “Coming in today, I just wanted to see the guys, hang out with them a couple more times. I mean, it’s the last time this full team, coaching staff will be in the building. So, (I) focus on that.
“My agents and (Mike Vrabel) and all, they’ll talk.”
Pats cornerback Carlton Davis vocalized his support for a Gonzalez extension Tuesday.
“I’m so happy for him, so proud of him,” Davis said. “He’s such a great kid outside of football, which is more important. It shows on the field. You can see it game in and game out. Super proud of him. One of the best corners in the league right now. And he deserves his payday for sure.”