Patriots Lock Down Gonzalez with $18M Option

It's April 1st, from breaking news to Sunday match-ups, this is NFL news today, powered

by AI.

Patriots are exercising the fifth-year option on cornerback Christian Gonzalez' rookie

contract.

That's $18.1 million to keep him locked in through the 2027 season.

Smart move for a guy who's already shining as one of the league's top defenders.

Gonzalez, the 23-year-old Oregon standout and first-round pick, just wrapped a pro-bull

year with 54 tackles and 10 pass.

Deflections.

At his age, he's got that rare mix of speed and smarts that mix quarterbacks think twice.

Mike Frable confirmed it straight up, saying they should have picked it up already if

they hadn't.

The team wants him long term, but waiting could drive up the cost even more in this hot

cornerback market.

Take Trent McDuffie's fresh, four-year, $124 million deal with the Rams.

Former Gonzalez' signs next will likely top that, positioning him as the NFL's highest

paid at the position.

Patriot's front office sees him as worth every penny for their defensive rebuild, so expect

extension talks to heat up soon and keep this lockdown.

Corner patrolling Fotsboro for years.