NFL training camps are when big stars often land rich contract extensions, and New England Patriots star Christian Gonzalez is next in line.
Next year, the Patriots’ fifth-year team option kicks in on Gonzalez, but the trend is for teams to pay their star players before they enter a contract year.
The Patriots likely wish they had acted quicker, because now the price of their shutdown corner may be going up after the Cleveland Browns signed Denzel Ward to a record-breaking $62.2 million contract paying an annual average of $31.1 million per season.
NFL World Reacts to Gonzalez’s Contract Situation
The Patriots may have been waiting to see what other top corners were going to get paid this offseason before going back to the table with a deal for their prized corner.
Gonzalez is a one-time Pro Bowler. Fellow 2023 first-round cornerback Devon Witherspoon is a three-time Pro Bowler and now a Super Bowl champion. Oddly enough, Gonzalez and Witherspoon share the same agent.
Neither has secured a new contract, and their agent is likely smiling from ear to ear after seeing Ward’s numbers.
Meanwhile, the NFL world can’t help but see how the Patriots waiting to sign Gonzalez has only likely driven up his price even further.
As ESPN’s Adam Schefter pointed out, Ward is now the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback.
The highest-paid CBs in the NFL on a per-year basis are now:
🏈Denzel Ward: $31.1M
🏈Trent McDuffie: $31M
🏈Sauce Gardner: $30.1M
🏈Derek Stingley Jr.: $30M
🏈Jaycee Horn: $25M https://t.co/mhTi2hKmUD— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2026
Schefter’s ESPN colleague, Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi, suggested the Browns may not be done paying their defensive backs.
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“Browns take care of business with Denzel Ward ahead of the first practice of training camp. We’ll see if Grant Delpit is next.”
Browns take care of business with Denzel Ward ahead of the first practice of training camp. We’ll see if Grant Delpit is next. https://t.co/nntW59oHP6 pic.twitter.com/CqHa9p9TJB
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) July 28, 2026
Bleacher Report’s NFL insider James Palmer was quick to suggest that both Gonzalez and Witherspoon will soar past Ward’s contract.
“Denzel Ward now passes Trent McDuffie for highest average per year for a CB by just a little bit. I don’t get the sense that Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon do that. I bet they top Ward’s deal by a good amount.”
Denzel Ward now passes Trent McDuffie for highest average per year for a CB by just a little bit. I don’t get the sense that Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon do that. I bet they top Ward’s deal by a good amount.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) July 28, 2026
One local sports anchor, Ian Steele of WMUR, was quick to connect the dots between Ward’s contract and where the Gonzalez negotiations could be headed.
“Christian Gonzalez, take note. @WMUR9 #NEPats”
Christian Gonzalez, take note.@WMUR9 #NEPats https://t.co/BIUrGhgcCq
— Ian Steele (@IanSteeleWMUR) July 28, 2026
Another X user commented, “Christian Gonzalez price keeps going up.”
Christian Gonzalez price keeps going up https://t.co/7Vk7lxK7Yn
— BroTalk (@BKsquared7) July 28, 2026
Meanwhile, another X user related the Ward situation to young Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who was also part of the 2023 NFL Draft class, but is on an expiring contract since he was not a first-round selection.
“CB market gets hotter and hotter as the Steelers and Joey Porter Jr. still don’t seem close on a deal.”
CB market gets hotter and hotter as the #Steelers and Joey Porter Jr. still don’t seem close on a deal. https://t.co/Od7jJzuWN9
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) July 28, 2026
The ‘Steelers Depot‘ page on X called on Pittsburgh’s GM Omar Khan to get something done with Porter Jr. too.
“The meter on cornerbacks keeps running. Get JPJ done, Omar #Steelers #NFL”
The meter on cornerbacks keeps running. Get JPJ done, Omar #Steelers #NFL https://t.co/Bs8eGkLO5X
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) July 28, 2026
One Browns supporter was proud of his team’s front office for getting a deal done with Ward, when he’s been frequently linked in trade rumors, especially after Myles Garrett’s departure in June.
“I know there was some trade talk around him, but I absolutely love this!”
I know there was some trade talk around him, but I absolutely love this! https://t.co/IzHXZSvHBi
— Chris Oldach (@TheOGPAW) July 28, 2026
Now the onus is on Patriots GM Eliot Wolf to get something done with Gonzalez before Seahawks GM John Schneider beats him to the punch with Witherspoon and drives the price up even higher.
