Christian Gonzalez’s ongoing contract negotiations could be a harbinger of what’s to come for Drake Maye next year.
Gonzalez, the New England Patriots’ 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is eligible to sign an extension for the first time. Pats owner Robert Kraft said on Day 1 of training camp that a deal is on the table to make Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in the league, but the two sides reportedly still aren’t close to an agreement.
Maye, the reigning NFL MVP runner-up and third overall pick in the 2024 draft, will be eligible for a lucrative contract extension next spring.
After Wednesday’s walkthrough practice in Foxboro, NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry asked the young quarterback whether Gonzalez’s lengthy negotiations have made him think about what he might have to go through next year.
“I’m not thinking about that right now,” Maye answered. “I’m a big fan of Gonzo and kind of how things are playing out, so I respect him for being out here and competing and wanting to practice. I think that speaks a lot for him wanting to be here.
“I said it before, he’s one of the best corners in the league, so I’m looking forward to playing with him, and I’m glad he’s on our team.”
Perry followed up by asking Maye whether it’s hard for him not to think about his long-term future.
“I try to be in the present every day,” Maye said. “That’s why they call it the present; it’s a gift, so I just try to be here, be where my feet are, and try to get better and better.”
Predictably, Maye is saying all the right things and focused on building off his remarkable 2025 campaign. Next year, however, will be pivotal for Maye and the Patriots as they negotiate a deal that will determine the direction of the franchise.
If Maye is among the league’s top QBs again in 2026, he could reset the market with an extension projected to be worth roughly $70 million per year. He’d be worth every penny, but that kind of contract — combined with Gonzalez’s expected extension — will make it difficult for New England to build a complete roster around the franchise cornerstones.
It’ll be a fascinating storyline in 2027. For now, though, Maye and the Patriots have their sights set on another AFC East title and Super Bowl appearance.
