Monday Patriots Notebook 8/17: Gonzalez Has a Big Decision to Make

Some news and notes on this Monday as the Patriots get back to work ahead of this week’s joint practices against Philadelphia:

Gonzalez vs Witherspoon

There was finally a domino that fell over the weekend after the Seattle Seahawks reached a deal with cornerback Devon Witherspoon. According to Adam Schefter, his contract was reported to be a four-year, $132 million extension that includes $101 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL History.

How long he’ll hold that title remains to be seen. He and Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez have the same agent, and the holdup with Gonzalez’s deal seemed to be tied to the results of Witherspoon’s, which finally reached its resolution Sunday. With his contract now done, it now sets the bar in the negotiations with Gonzalez.

Jul 25, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) makes a catch at training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images — **(PHOTO: Eric Canha-Imagn Images)**

The fourth-year cornerback is said to be looking to set the market at the position, which in theory would then see him be paid more than Witherspoon. But it’s hard not to wonder how the Patriots might view it depending on just how much Gonzalez is seeking.

Over the course of Witherspoon’s career, he’s got better numbers. He has more passes defended in his three seasons (32), and Seattle also seemingly used him in cornerback blitzes as he’s tallied 4.5 sacks. He also has two interceptions.

Gonzalez has one more interception (3), and he’s got 24 passes defended over the course of his three seasons, and he does have one sack. Witherspoon has significantly more tackles (233, 154 solo) compared to Gonzalez (139, 112 solo), while having played 43 games compared to Gonzalez’s 34. Looking at the film, he also feels like a more physical player.

In saying that, it’s no slight to Gonzalez, and the two are terrific cover corners and guys who absolutely make a difference in their respective secondaries. The key question now just seems to be where Gonzalez’s deal lines up because on paper, paying him more money than Witherspoon doesn’t seem to make sense to start with, and paying him significantly more definitely doesn’t.

Jul 25, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft speaks to cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) at training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images — **(PHOTO: Eric Canha-Imagn Images)**

Head coach Mike Vrabel has looked visibly irritated the last couple of times this topic has been mentioned, which makes you wonder what’s going on behind the scenes. Gonzalez’s most recent absence is said to be tied to something related to practice, seemingly following the tumble he took while matched up against Doubs in practice last week.

But if it begins to escalate, especially with Witherspoon’s deal being done, it’s then tough not to think that his tenure in New England could be in jeopardy. With Drake Maye coming up next season and a host of other needs as they continue trying to build a nucleus around him, Gonzalez may have some difficult decisions to make.

Schefter also added that the two sides “have not made much progress so far,” and if he’s looking for significantly more money beyond what Witherspoon just got, then it would make sense.

In the end, Gonzalez can seek top dollar and become Darrelle Revis and spend his career potentially playing on not-so-great football teams, or he can get paid extremely well and spend his time competing for championships and building his legacy.

If it’s the former rather than the latter, the odds are pretty good that the Patriots will be forced to switch gears and find a suitor for his services. Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf, and Ryan Cowden will simply turn that currency into more building blocks for the future, which might potentially even include his replacement, while Gonzalez chases his big payday elsewhere.

Either way, the ball is in his court, and the hope is that he’ll spend his career here. But it’s got to be at a price that makes sense for a team that is set up to do great things both with or without him.

Jul 28, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots offensive tackle Andrew Rupcich (67) and center Ben Brown (77) walk to practice for training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images — **(PHOTO: Eric Canha-Imagn Images)**

Positive News on Rupcich

Mike Reiss reported on Monday that the prognosis on offensive lineman Andrew Rupcich is certainly better than initially thought.

Reiss reports that Rupcich suffered a strained MCL that doesn’t require surgery, and after having been placed on IR, he could return following an injury settlement later in the season.

The injury happened early in the fourth quarter, with the offensive lineman seen holding his left knee after getting rolled up on as he was blocking during a run play. Running back Hassan Haskins was tackled behind him, landing on the bag of his leg.

He went into the blue medical tent but did come back out on the sidelines, which, at the time, seemed like positive news. However, he ended up being placed on IR shortly after.

The team is already short on depth at guard, having also lost Ben Brown to a leg injury during the game.

“Ben’s going to be a few weeks,” said Vrabel on Saturday. “Okay. 4 to 6, 8, 10, 12, even numbers. But it’ll probably be extensive throughout the rest of the preseason for sure.”

Both Rupcich and Brown are versatile players, with each able to play both guard and center. The team did bring in two offensive linemen, with both Darrian Dalcourt and Joe Michalski joining the team over the weekend.

Vrabel Testing Borregales

After a rough night Thursday night, Vrabel admitted that during the regular season, some of Borregales’ attempts might not have happened and the club would have instead gone for it.

During the preseason, Vrabel said he elected to test his kicker, which resulted in a 2-for-5 performance, including Borregales missing what would have potentially been a 49-yard game-winner.

“There’s really no messages.” said Vrabel Saturday when asked about him. “We all understand that we have to be able to execute. And, I’m confident, just like I’ve always been in Andy, that he’ll make them.”

“I was trying to— we went for it a lot of times in those situations last year. And I just, with preseason, just trying to see, to be able to work some things and stress him and the distance.”

Borregales was tested during practice over the weekend after Vrabel had him kicking into narrower goalposts, and Borregales did respond. He hit 6-of-6 during those attempts, and it was a nice bounce-back performance given how the other night went.

The hope now is that he’ll settle in and be the player they’ll need going into the season. Vrabel added that when he is called upon, they’re relying on him to come through.

“Whether we go for them or not, they just have to be ready to go and make those kicks,” said Vrabel. “And, just wanted to try to keep pushing the envelope. I know we can always go for it on 4th-and-2 at the 35 or 36-yard line, but we’re going to need those kicks.”

About Ian Logue

Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.

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