Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez responds to Robert Kraft’s public contract comments - Boston Herald

What the report says

The Boston Herald reported that New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez declined to discuss the details of his contract negotiations publicly after team owner Robert Kraft said the club had offered him a deal that would make him both the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history and the highest-paid player in Patriots history. Speaking Tuesday at training camp in Foxboro, Gonzalez expressed respect for Kraft but said he wanted discussions to remain between the team and his representatives.

Gonzalez, a 2024 second-team All-Pro and former first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is newly eligible for an extension after three seasons on his rookie contract. The Patriots have already exercised his fifth-year option, keeping him under team control through the 2027 season. The Herald noted that Gonzalez would not say whether Kraft’s public remarks bothered him, whether being the top-paid player at his position mattered to him, or whether he would play the season without a new agreement. He did say he hopes a deal with New England can be reached.

The contract situation is significant because Gonzalez has been fully participating early in training camp despite not having an extension. He skipped much of the offseason program and did not take part in team drills during minicamp. Gonzalez said he wants to be on the field with teammates and continue preparing for the season. The Patriots are scheduled to begin fully padded practices Thursday after an off day.

The Herald added context from around the league: Trent McDuffie is currently the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback at $31 million annually, and Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon, another 2023 first-round cornerback who shares an agent with Gonzalez, is also practicing without an extension. Several other 2023 first-rounders have already agreed to new deals.