Robert Kraft expresses confidence in extensions for Patriots’ young stars
Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez have become franchise pillars.
Foxborough, MA - January 18: New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye chats with owner Robert Kraft before the game. The Patriots played the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images The New England Patriots had a pair of Pro Bowlers last season in quarterback Drake Maye and cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
The young, blue-chip duo played a major role in New England’s turnaround and run to Super Bowl LX last season, and both appear positioned to be franchise pillars for Mike Vrabel’s squad for the foreseeable future. Keeping them in place long term, however, will require what are expected to be significant contract extensions. Speaking with reporters at the NFL Annual League Meetings in Arizona on Monday, owner Robert Kraft expressed confidence that both deals will eventually get done.
“We always try,” Kraft said. “We have a salary cap, so we have a limit. So, we have to think what’s best for the team in terms of timing of the signing and of course, the earlier you do it, it’s believed it’s more economically satisfactory.
But we leave that to Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf and our people making contract decisions. We’re lucky to have those two players and I hope and believe they’ll be with us for the long term. ” Drafted a year before Maye, the timing means a decision will have to be made first on Gonzalez’s deal.