Christian Gonzalez did not attend the Patriots’ voluntary OTAs this week, a sign he likely wants his extension before he takes reps. With negotiations ongoing and New England having moved to create more flexibility through a contract restructure of Mike Onwenu
Christian Gonzalez wasn’t hard to miss this week—because he wasn’t there.
The Patriots corner was absent from New England’s voluntary offseason program, and the timing appears deliberate. Gonzalez is eligible for an extension, and he is not likely to suit up until a deal is worked out, New England reporter Tom Curran said.
Curran framed it in plain financial terms. Gonzalez “is only set to make $4 million this season on his rookie contract. ” despite being an All-Pro in 2024 and a Pro Bowler in 2025. Curran said Gonzalez won’t play “for $4 million. ” and argued the corner should be in a different pay bracket—“He should be making 32-35 million dollars a year.” In Curran’s view. Gonzalez isn’t going to take reps “in anger” until he is being paid “commensurate to what he has to do.”.
That stance puts New England in a familiar tension point for high-end players on rookie deals: the optics of a contract negotiation showing up on the practice field—or. more accurately. not showing up at all. If talks drag into the start of training camp, Gonzalez could find himself in “holdout watch,” Curran said.
The Patriots. for their part. have been working the cap system as they prepare for the next round of big decisions. New England recently restructured the contract of veteran guard Mike Onwenu. converting some of Onwenu’s salary into a signing bonus. The team said the move cleared cap space for 2026. New England “weren’t exactly up against the cap even before the move. ” but the restructure still gives the organization increased flexibility as it tries to get Gonzalez extended.
That matters because the Patriots’ offseason planning doesn’t stop at one extension. The report also points to the possibility of a heavily rumored trade involving the Eagles, with A.J. Brown’s contract part of the conversation. Even if such a deal never materializes, the timing of Gonzalez’s absence makes the extension question harder to ignore.
For fans watching the Patriots’ secondary, the stakes feel personal. Gonzalez has been a standout addition since he was drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. His rookie season ended abruptly due to a shoulder injury. But the last two seasons—2024 and 2025—have confirmed the early promise. with Gonzalez reaching the “upper echelon of NFL cornerbacks. ” earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition along the way.
New England also has to plan for its other young star. The team will be due to pay Gonzalez and quarterback Drake Maye soon, with both far outpacing their rookie deals. In that context, the Patriots’ leverage in extension talks may narrow quickly.
The pay debate takes shape through the market comparisons. Curran’s argument is that Gonzalez can push for top-tier corner money because his performance is that level. The Rams. for example. made a major statement this offseason by making Trent McDuffie the highest-paid corner in the NFL: a four-year. $124 million contract. Gonzalez is described as either better than McDuffie or. at minimum. on the same tier. and the report says he can leverage that contract in negotiations.
Another comparison comes from Patrick Surtain, whose 4-year, $96 million deal he signed in 2024. The report frames that figure as potentially below what Gonzalez might reasonably seek, given how the market has shifted over the last two years.
When Gonzalez will return is still unclear. But if his absence from voluntary OTAs is really about reps waiting for pay. then fans may not see him until his extension is done—or at least close. Until then. New England’s voluntary spring work is carrying a notable blank space where one of its brightest defensive pieces would normally be.
Christian Gonzalez New England Patriots OTAs contract extension rookie contract Mike Onwenu restructure Drake Maye holdout watch Tom Curran NFL cornerback contracts Trent McDuffie Patrick Surtain A.J. Brown trade rumors