Christian Gonzalez isn’t settling for less and why the Patriots must open their wallets now
· Yahoo Sports
Christian Gonzalez stayed away from voluntary practices while pushing for a new contract, which is usually seen as a warning sign. But he reported to the mandatory minicamp and went out of his way to say he wants to stay. The Patriots should see that for what it is and get the deal done.
After showing up to minicamp, the star cornerback spoke openly about his future. Speaking through Nick Shook of NFL.com, he said, “Of course, I want to be here. I’ve said this multiple times. I’ve been drafted here. I want to be rewarded as a Patriot. I love this town. I love this city.”
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Gonzalez is among the top young cornerbacks in the league, and players at his position rarely get cheaper over time. He’s now eligible for an extension, and he’s made it clear he wants to stay – no threats, no drama, just a straightforward request.
Every offseason pushes up the price of cornerbacks, and having a player openly say he wants to remain with the team is only useful leverage if you move before the market shifts again.
Copyright ©Icon Sportswire All Rights ReservedWhy the Patriots might choose to hold off
On the other side, there’s the usual front-office logic. Gonzalez is still under contract, so there’s no rush from a timing standpoint. Teams often like to see how other cornerback deals play out across the league before setting their own numbers. Signing a deal too early can lead to overpaying compared to where the market eventually settles, and skipping voluntary workouts is already a soft sign of applying some pressure.
Playing the waiting game has its risks, especially when a player is already under contract. But there’s a limit to how far discipline can take you before it starts to work against you. Gonzalez has made things straightforward for New England. He’s openly said he wants to be there and has asked for a new deal without any drama.
The longer the Patriots wait, the more expensive that deal might become, and any good feeling could start to fade. When a young star at a premium position says he loves the city and wants to stay, it’s usually wise to act before someone else gives him a reason to reconsider. This feels like one they should get done soon.
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