'Frustrating' contract talks irk Pats CB Gonzalez

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  Mike ReissAug 25, 2026, 06:20 PM ET

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  Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Cornerback Christian Gonzalez and the New England Patriots continue to discuss a contract extension, and with the regular-season opener Sept. 9 closing in, Gonzalez expressed disappointment the sides have yet to reach an agreement.

"It's frustrating, but I'm focused on the season. I'm focused on here now," he said after practice Tuesday.

That was a point Gonzalez repeated multiple times, as he highlighted the importance of preparing for a Super Bowl LX rematch against the Seattle Seahawks while referencing twice how the situation has lingered for months.

"I'm focused on Week 1 at this point. I mean, it's been all offseason ... " Gonzalez said, when asked if he's still optimistic a deal gets completed.

Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf told reporters Tuesday that Gonzalez is a priority for the team.

"We want him here. He's an elite player," Wolf said. "I've been on record saying that before, and we're continuing to work with his representation to find a resolution that works for everyone."

Gonzalez is represented by agent Reggie Johnson, who negotiated the four-year, $132 million extension for Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon on Aug. 15.

Wolf described talks between the sides as having picked up "momentum," adding the team hasn't set a deadline to consummate a deal. At the start of training camp in late July, owner Robert Kraft said the Patriots made an offer that would make Gonzalez the highest paid cornerback in the NFL, and Wolf said Tuesday that is still the case.

To that point, Gonzalez, who has said he prefers to avoid negotiating through the media, said: "There's certain things that go into a contract, but my team knows what we want, so it kind of depends how you put it."

Gonzalez had been a full participant in training camp up to Aug. 10 when he landed hard in the end zone and appeared to sustain an injury. He missed joint practices with the Colts and Eagles and returned to practice Aug. 24. He declined comment when asked if his absence was solely due to injury or potentially also about the status of contract talks.

Gonzalez, a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (No. 17 overall), is eligible for an extension for the first time this offseason. He didn't attend the majority of the Patriots' voluntary offseason program, and at mandatory minicamp on June 9, said he hoped to be "rewarded as a Patriot."

He is under contract for two more seasons, scheduled to earn $2.259 million in 2026 and $18.11 million in 2027.