Gonzalez Becomes Patriots' Highest Paid Player | NFL News

0:00It's of Timber Afe. This is NFL News Today. AI-powered stories shaping the season. Christian Gonzalez just inked a massive deal with the New England Patriots, a four-year extension worth $135 million. This move officially makes him the highest paid cornerback in the entire league, and also the highest paid player in Patriots franchise history. That's a serious bag for the young talent. Before this, the record for the highest paid player on the Patriots was held by defensive linemen Milton Williams, who signed for four years and won. $104 million back in March. Gonzalez's deal also puts him in a lead company league-wide. As he's now one of only two cornerbacks ever to secure a contract exceeding $100, 30 million. This extension comes after a stellar year for Gonzalez. Despite some early season injuries, he bounced back strong, racking up 69 total tackles and 10 past deflections. He even made a game-changing interception in the AFC Championship game,

1:02helping the Patriots secure their spot in the Super Bowl. The team's owner, Robert Kraft, had already hinted at this possibility, stating they love Gonzalez as both a player and a person, and had made an offer that would set new franchise and positional records. Gonzalez was eligible for an extension, and with his fifth year option picked up, negotiations were clearly in full swing. The timing is pretty wild, too. With the Patriots kicking off their new season on Wednesday night against the Seattle Seahawks, this deal got finalized right before they hit the field. It's a huge statement from the Patriots about their commitment to Gonzalez for the long haul.