New NFL Rumors on Christian Gonzalez, Patriots Contract Talks After $132M Witherspoon-Seahawks Deal

ESPN insider Adam Schefter isn't convinced Devon Witherspoon's historic deal with the Seattle Seahawks is an indication Christian Gonzalez and the New England Patriots are close to compromising on an extension.

Schefter discussed the topic on ESPN's Pat McAfee Show after the Seahawks made Witherspoon the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

"I'm not so sure that that Gonzo deal is going to get done so quickly," Schefter said.

Schefter continued, "Up until this past weekend, the two sides were not overly close, and they had not had a lot of productive conversations... the parameters are in place, it should not be hard to get a deal done right now for Christian Gonzalez, and yet so far it has been."

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in July the Patriots had offered to make Gonzalez the NFL's highest-paid cornerback.

That number necessary to meet that standard increased since Kraft's comments. Witherspoon set the new positional record last weekend after agreeing to a four-year, $132 million deal with the Seahawks.

The contract included more than $101 million in guaranteed money, per Schefter.

The previous standard was set by Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie, who signed his own four-year, $124 million deal with $100 million guaranteed in March.

Witherspoon's deal has long been expected to impact Gonzalez considering the duo shares both a position and an agent.

CLNS' Mike Giardi previously reported Gonzalez wants to earn "a lot" more than Witherspoon on his extension.

Gonzalez is currently signed through the 2027 season after the Patriots activated the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. He is not participating in practice this week due to what Vrabel has repeatedly said are injury issues rather than a contract-related holdout.

The Patriots may want to erase any doubt about Gonzalez's participation ahead of the regular season. New England has two preseason games remaining before opening campaign Sept. 9 against Witherspoon and the defending champion Seahawks.