Christian Gonzalez has been in the headlines throughout the offseason, mostly due to his unresolved contract situation. On Tuesday, he made news again — for two reasons.
The first was him being a surprise absentee from the New England Patriots‘ joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts. While that Gonzalez-less session was ready to begin, meanwhile, his ranking on the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2026 list as voted by his peers was announced.
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The Patriots’ standout cornerback checked in at No. 28, significantly higher than his 84th ranking the previous year.
Gonzalez making a sizable jump and being recognized by the rest of the league comes as no surprise. A Pro Bowl selection, he was one of the best cornerbacks in football in 2025 and played a crucial role in helping the Patriots return to the Super Bowl.
“He’s super smart. Elite technique. He can get his hands on guys,” said Panthers quarterback Bryce Young about Gonzalez, who he faced in Week 4 of last year’s regular season.
“It looks so easy for him,” added former Bills CB Tre’Davious White. “He goes up and gest the best guy each and every week, and that’s what you want from your top corner. Very competitive. Christian is a baller.”
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While not the most productive player from an interception perspective, Gonzalez nonetheless has earned the respect from players around the NFL. Last year’s playoffs showed why. Not only did he catch the game-clinching interception against the Broncos in the AFC Championship, he also would have had a strong case for game MVP had New England not lost Super Bowl LX to Seattle.
“He’s a gifted player. He’s a special player. He’s a special teammate,” said Patriots punter Bryce Baringer. “It’s just awesome to see him do his thing. He’s a lockdown dude.”
