Could newfound leverage change Christian Gonzalez's contract approach?
It's clear why the Patriots should be in a hurry to get a deal done with Christian Gonzalez. But should the top corner show the same urgency?
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez could be playing the long game in contract negotiations with the team. FOX Sports' Henry McKenna reported that the Patriots and Gonzalez had "preliminary conversations" about a contract extension during the NFL Scouting Combine. The Patriots would obviously prefer to get a deal done as soon as possible, particularly after the Los Angeles Rams signed cornerback Trent McDuffie to a four-year, $124 million contract extension.
As time passes, the price to keep Gonzalez will only get more expensive for the Patriots. So while the Patriots are looking to get a deal done as quickly as possible, it wouldn't be a surprise if Gonzalez takes the slow approach to maximize his earning potential. "I kind of get the sense that maybe Gonzalez is going to make maybe significantly more than [Trent McDuffie] when all things are said and done," said McKenna on NESN's Boston Has Entered The Chat .
"I think, actually, the Patriots probably want to have a little more urgency than Gonzalez's camp at this point, given the way we're seeing non-QB contracts increase in value. " Gonzalez is one of the best cornerbacks in the league and likely to reset the market when his deal gets done. If the Patriots were going to sign off on a massive contract extension, it should be with the 23-year-old defender who might one day be the unquestioned best cornerback in the NFL.
Gonzalez is a foundational cornerstone piece who could dominate on defense for years to come. But employing that kind of talent costs a lot of money. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook .