While there has been no contract extension movement between the New England Patriots and Christian Gonzalez so far, one external domino has fallen. Devon Witherspoon, who was drafted in the same first round as Gonzalez, has just been made the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history by the Seattle Seahawks.
Witherspoon and the reigning world champions reached an agreement on a four-year, $132 million contract extension that reportedly includes over $101 million in guarantees. At an average annual value
of $33 million, the deal tops the two-year, $62.2 million deal signed by the Cleveland Browns’ Denzel Ward in July.
Gonzalez, who is represented by the same agent as Witherspoon, will surely keep a close eye on those numbers and the overall structure of the deal.
The Pro Bowler is himself looking to become the highest-paid cornerback in football. Back in July, Patriots owner Robert Kraft claimed that the organization had an offer on the table that would meet those requirements. Whether that is still relevant with Witherspoon now signed will be seen.
Fact is, Witherspoon’s $33 million per year is the new benchmark now and a number Gonzalez will want to best with his own extension. So far, however, the two sides apparently have not made significant progress since the Patriots used the fifth-year contract option to keep the 24-year-old — who is 18 months younger than his Seattle counterpart — tied to the club through 2027.
Gonzalez nonetheless had been an active participant in practice before suffering an injury during earlier this week.
“Working hard, conditioning, but will not be practicing. He’s not ready to get back out there and practice yet,” said head coach Mike Vrabel on Saturday.
“I’ve talked about his professionalism, everybody else’s. So, this isn’t anything like that. It was something that happened in practice, and he’s where he’s supposed to be when he needs to be there. Treatment, working with Frank [Piraino] and doing those things. But, obviously, my job is to be on the same page with everybody here, players and coaches. And I’m confident that that’s what we are doing, and everybody has a plan each and every day.”
