The New England Patriots are now staring at a much pricier Christian Gonzalez extension after the Seattle Seahawks reset the cornerback market with Devon Witherspoon.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Witherspoon and Seattle reached agreement on a four-year, $132 million extension that includes over $101 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. That deal gives the Patriots a clear number to chase - and probably top - if they want to lock up Gonzalez long term.
For New England, the timing matters. The Patriots and Seahawks were both working through contract talks with their top cornerbacks this offseason, and Seattle got its deal done first. That leaves the Patriots in a spot where Gonzalez is likely to command a slightly larger package than Witherspoon’s new contract, and the Patriots will probably have to meet that ask.
The expectation is that Gonzalez’s next deal will land just above Witherspoon’s, even if only by a small margin. The source suggests it could come in at about $132 million over four years, with more than $101 million guaranteed, or even a touch higher. That would keep the Patriots in record-setting territory, with an average annual value north of $33 million.
The comparison to the running back market this offseason is an easy one: Bijan Robinson signed a new deal with the Atlanta Falcons, and Jahmyr Gibbs edged it out soon after. Gonzalez appears headed for a similar outcome, with Witherspoon’s extension serving as the latest bar to clear.
It may be annoying for New England that Seattle moved first, because now the Patriots effectively have to beat that contract to keep Gonzalez. But the bigger picture is straightforward: this was always going to be a massive deal, and the Patriots should be comfortable paying it for one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks right now.
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