Days after the New England Patriots gave tight end Hunter Henry a two-year, $16 million extension, the next priority looks clear. The Patriots now need to turn their attention toward Christian Gonzalez and get a long-term deal done before the situation grows into a bigger concern.
Gonzalez technically remains under his rookie contract, as the Patriots already picked up his fifth-year option. But the cornerback is looking for an extension that could make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
But considering there’s been little progress, Gonzalez’s latest Instagram post has only raised more questions for Patriots fans.
Patriots Star Christian Gonzalez’s Instagram Post Sparks Concern
The concern started when Gonzalez shared an image from one of his training sessions on Instagram. Alongside the picture, he included lyrics from Morgan Wallen’s country song “Been By Now,” which appeared on his MW5 album.
“Should have been done by now,” the lyrics read. “But you didn’t know how to handle the feeling.”
Although Gonzalez did not directly mention his contract, the timing immediately caught the attention of Patriots fans.
Soon after the post went up, fans on X began urging the Patriots to end the uncertainty.
One fan summed up the frustration by writing, “Can we not fumble the bag plz I can’t take losing Gonzo and JB in the same offseason,” while another admitted, “I really want this over with. I hate when one of our top 2 players are having contract issues.”
The anxiety makes sense because Gonzalez has quickly become a cornerstone of the Patriots’ defense, establishing himself as one of the NFL’s premier lockdown cornerbacks.
Even after a hamstring injury limited Gonzalez to 14 games during the 2025 regular season, he remained a major force in the secondary.
He finished with a career-high 69 total tackles, including 54 solo stops, while adding 10 passes defensed. PFN’s NFL CB Impact Rankings placed him at #24 with a 79.9 grade. These numbers only strengthen the case for a massive extension.
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For now, Patriots fans can only hope the Instagram post means nothing more. Still, with Gonzalez’s future deal unresolved, the Patriots cannot afford to “fumble the bag.”
One supporter voiced the frustration bluntly, writing, “This is so absurd. If the Patriots get rid of this dude for nothing similar to Celtics with JB I’m done w them forever,” while another demanded action, saying, “The Christian Gonzalez contract needs to get done. I don’t know what the hold up is, but you need him playing and can’t risk a hold out.”
Gonzalez skipped voluntary OTAs earlier this offseason but has taken part in training camp, which suggests he still wants to play while both sides work toward an agreement.
The uncertainty, though, has Patriots fans on edge.
“Patriots can never dish out big contracts per usual,” one fan wrote.
Another tried to stay positive but struggled to hide the nerves, posting, “I’m staying calm. I’m Staying Calm. I’M STAYING CALM,” after Gonzalez also missed a joint practice session.
Fortunately, the absence did not signal a contract holdout. Reports later confirmed that Gonzalez missed the session as a precaution after he landed hard on his ankle during drills.
