Why Patriots must clear $132M benchmark in Christian Gonzalez contract talks

The New England Patriots lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and this offseason, they also just lost to them again. This time, in the form of contract talks.

Both teams were looking to sign their superstar cornerbacks to long-term deals, and both were struggling to get a deal done. That is, until the Seahawks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, agreed to a record-breaking extension with Devon Witherspoon.

Now, the Patriots have a new benchmark to break in their contract extension talks with Christian Gonzalez this summer: $132 million over four years with $101 million guaranteed.

Patriots must break $132M record with Christian Gonzalez

"ESPN sources: three-time Pro Bowl CB Devon Witherspoon and the Seahawks reached agreement on a four-year, $132 million extension and includes over $101 million guaranteed that now makes him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history," Schefter reports.

This mammoth new contract extension for Witherspoon now puts the ball in the Patriots' court to sign their own star cornerback to a long-term deal.

Gonzalez is likely to demand a slightly higher deal than what Witherspoon just got. And the Patriots will probably have to cave in to such demands.

It's similar to what happened at running back this offseason. Bijan Robinson signed a new deal with the Atlanta Falcons, and Jahmyr Gibbs beat it just barely with his own new deal.

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Gonzalez might only get $500,000 more total than what Witherspoon got, but he's almost sure to break the record the Seahawks Pro Bowler just set.

Meaning, the Patriots are likely to spend $132 million over four years, likely more than $33 million per year, along with more than $101 million guaranteed to keep Gonzalez long-term.

It does sting that the Seahawks got their extension done first, as the Patriots now practically have to beat that deal to sign Gonzalez.

But it was always going to be a record-breaker for Gonzalez, and the Patriots should have no qualms over signing Gonzalez to such a massive deal, considering he's one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL right now.

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