Both before and after Devon Witherspoon inked his Seahawks extension, Patriots owner Robert Kraft indicated Christian Gonzalez has received offers to make him the league’s highest-paid cornerback. The latest reporting on the nature of negotiations states otherwise, though.
During a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (video link), ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Patriots “haven’t gone there” with respect to an extension offer matching what Witherspoon landed with his Seattle deal. Earlier this month, a four-year extension averaging $33MM per season was signed in that case. Witherspoon secured $101MM in total guarantees, along with just over $59MM fully locked in at signing.
Kraft said in late July New England had made a market-topping offer to Gonzalez. He said the same thing earlier this week, supplying a notable backdrop to the Pro Bowler’s frustration with how the negotiating process has gone. According to Schefter, the Patriots in fact “weren’t there before” in terms of a contract similar to Witherspoon’s pact and they “don’t appear to be going there right now.”
The cornerback market jumped to $31MM annually when Trent McDuffie was acquired and extended by the Rams. Witherspoon and Gonzalez – who share an agent – were long seen as logical candidates to move the bar even higher. Gonzalez, 24, had his fifth-year option picked up in the spring and he is under team control through 2027 as a result. Team and player have been clear about their desire for a long-term agreement to be in place prior to Week 1, though that is far from a lock.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed yesterday (via MassLive’s Chris Mason) he remains in communication with Gonzalez. EVP Eliot Wolf recently said efforts to work out a deal are ongoing as the start of the regular season approaches. Schefter predicts a push from both sides could be made in the coming days to hammer out an agreement, although there is clearly considerable progress still to be made.
Gonzalez is reported to be seeking a pact surpassing Witherspoon’s by a large margin. Whether or not he will manage to do so remains to be seen, and the same is apparently true regarding an offer in line with the Witherspoon contract.
