When the Falcons signed running back Bijan Robinson to a new contract, the Lions and running back Jahmyr Gibbs used the Robinson deal as the template for quickly getting their own contract done. When the Seahawks signed cornerback Devon Witherspoon to a new contract, it seemed that the same thing would happen for both the Patriots and cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Eight days later, it hasn’t happened — even though Witherspoon and Gonzalez are represented by the same firm.
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During Saturday’s preseason game between the Patriots and Eagles, New England executive V.P. of football operations Eliot Wolf addressed the lingering impasse.
“Each side is trying to do what’s right for them,” Wolf said on the game broadcast, via Mike Reiss of ESPN. “Christian is a tremendous player that we’ve been on record multiple times saying we want him to be here, and that hasn’t changed. We’re going to continue working with his representation to try to get something done.”
Gonzalez hasn’t practiced since August 10. The Patriots say he’s injured. Maybe he is. The circumstances invite speculation that, if it’s an injury, it’s something he’d possibly be practicing through if he had the security that comes from a long-term second contract.
Obviously, it’s turning out not to be as simple as taking Witherspoon’s deal, which pushed the new-money APY to $33 million per year, and changing the numbers in order to get Gonzalez to, say, $34 million annually.
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From the team’s perspective, Gonzalez is under contract through 2027, thanks to his fifth-year option. From the player’s perspective, Gonzalez wants to replace the $20.378 million he’s due to earn under the balance of his rookie deal with something that sets a new bar for the cornerback market.
