Patriots survey results: Christian Gonzalez should be NFL’s highest-paid CB

DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 25: Christian Gonzalez #0 of the New England Patriots celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass from Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Denver Broncos (not pictured) intended for Marvin Mims Jr. #19 (not pictured) during the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Playoff game at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. The New England Patriots defeat the Denver Broncos 10-7. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Speaking at the NFL annual league meetings Monday, New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft expressed his desire to keep star cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the team for the long-term.

New England's first-round pick in 2023, Gonzalez's rookie contract is set to expire at the end of next season. The team can exercise his fifth-year option for the 2027 season and are now eligible to negotiate a long-term extension with the cornerback - something the front office has continued to say is part of their plans.

Christian's a tremendous player. It's no secret that we'd like to try to get something done with him," executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said Monday. He's a great talent. He's one of the best players at his position in the NFL. He's developing as a leader... He's really just scratching the surface. He's already up there as an elite talent and we think he can improve even more."

Extending the 23-year old All-Pro will not be cheap, especially after Gonzalez was one of the Patriots' best players to conclude last season - hauling in a game-sealing interception in the AFC Championship Game before recording three pass breakups in the Super Bowl. In fact, Gonzalez has a chance to reset the market at the cornerback position. In the results of the latestSB Nation Reactssurvey, 68% of participants think the Patriots should do just that and make Gonzalez the highest paid corner in football.

The comment section was largely in agreement.

SuncreamDreams

I'd go 5 years, 150m, 120m guaranteed, that works out at 24m guaranteed a year and some nifty bonus/incentive

For Pats Sake

5 Years, 150M, 100M guaranteed. Gonzo is a better player than Sauce or McDuffie.

WelshPatriot

Whatever he wants. Just do it.

SlotMachinePlayer

I've got a first-born male child. I'm sure others here can sweeten the deal.

Sportzballer

The Patriots should pay him. I don't really have a specific player to model after since Gonzalez is his own situation. What I do know is we have seen attempts to wait or lowball elite players and it almost always backfires.

All in all, this week's survey results look as follows:

The cornerback market was already reset this offseason after the Los Angeles Rams traded for Trent McDuffie and inked him to a record-setting four-year, $124 million contract with a whopping $100 million guaranteed.

A majority of Patriots fans believe that contract is the best offer to model a potential extension with Gonzalez afterwards - which would then make him the league's highest paid cornerback. Meanwhile, 30% of fans would prefer a structure to similar to Sauce Gardner, who signed a four-year, $120.4 million deal with $85 million guaranteed. Derek Stingley's three-year, $90 million deal ($89 million guaranteed) was then an offer that just 12% of participants preferred.

New England has said they are in the business of keeping their best players, which is certainly Gonzalez after he played a huge role in them making Super Bowl LX last season. Currently on FanDuel Sportsbook, the Patriots have the fifth-best odds to get back to the Super Bowl next year - trailing just the Ravens, Bills, Chiefs and Chargers.