FOXBORO — The Patriots entered the offseason with two bona fide bankable stars in quarterback Drake Maye and cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Tuesday, in the Patriots’ first practice open to the media of the spring, one of those players made life more difficult for the other at organized team activities.
Gonzalez picked off Maye twice in the second-year quarterback’s first eight throws. Gonzalez took advantage of what appeared to be miscommunication on his first interception. His second was on a target to rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams.
“It was two different coverages, both where I got to see the quarterback, so that helps as a DB,” Gonzalez said. “Saw the ball and then went and got it.”
Gonzalez was one of the few bright spots in a season Patriots fans would largely like to forget. He ranked 14th among 128 qualified cornerbacks in PFF’s overall defensive grading last season, and he was 11th in coverage grade, allowing 46 catches on 84 targets for 499 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
The Oregon product was a Pro Bowl snub but earned second-team All-Pro honors for his efforts last season. He was passed over again this offseason when PFF named their 25 under 25 rankings. Five cornerbacks did make the list: the Chiefs’ Trent McDuffie, the Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr., the Seahawks’ Devon Witherspoon, the Bills’ Christian Benford and the Eagles’ Cooper DeJean.
“Let the play talk. That’s all I have to say about that,” Gonzalez told the Herald about the snub from PFF.
Gonzalez is grateful to be fully healthy at the start of OTAs this season.
His rookie year ended prematurely with a torn labrum four games into the 2023 season.
“Just getting back healthy, getting back ready to come back and be ready to go,” Gonzalez said about his biggest focus this offseason. “And also just kind of trying to going into Year 3, we got a pretty young room. Bringing in CD (Carlton Davis) helps, but trying to take that next step and be one of the guys who people can come talk to.”
The Patriots signed Davis to play opposite Gonzalez at cornerback. They have the potential to be one of the top cornerback duos in the NFL.
“It’s gonna be awesome just learning and playing with CD,” Gonzalez said. “I mean, he’s been in it, he’s played in the Super Bowl, so he’s seen it at the highest level. He’s done it. So that’s only not great for me, but for the whole room to just have his voice in there and just pick up tips from him, anything he can learn from us, we can learn from him. And, you know, just chopping it up, piggybacking ideas, how we play certain things, it’s gonna be awesome.”
Gonzalez also has a new head coach in Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator in Terrell Williams and position coach in Justin Hamilton. He said the defense is still getting acclimated to a new system, but he’s enjoyed his time with Hamilton.
New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers (5) and cornerback Christian Gonzalez on the field Tuesday at Gillette. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
“It’s been really fun getting to know him. All the corners, we’re all real close. That corner room is pretty much the exact same from last year, just minus a couple people but. So, we’ve all been real close so we’re all learning each other and he’s bringing energy. He’s kind of like me. I mean, we’re both pretty low-key. He’s not a coach that’s gonna get to yelling and doing all that, but it’s been fun. I’m excited to continue to work with him,” he said.
Beyond Gonzalez and Davis, the Patriots brought back Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Miles Battle, Isaiah Bolden, Marcellas Dial and D.J. James at cornerback. They selected Kobee Minor in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and signed Brandon Crossley and Jordan Polk as undrafted free agents.
Gonzalez, Davis and Jones appear like roster locks. Austin, Battle, Bolden, Dial, James, Minor, Crossley and Polk will compete for two or three more spots on the roster.