"Since he was selected in the first round of the 2023 draft, Christian Gonzalez has quickly become one of the best players on the Patriots roster, not just their defense. Even missing most of his rookie season, he has ascended into the conversation of the fastest rising stars in the league, further proving just how valuable he has become to the team in a short amount of time."
"The opening game against the Raiders proved just how much he is missed, which was only further proven in their efforts against the Dolphins. Alex Austin, who is filling in as the starter in Gonzalez's absence, had stood out during the 2024 season for his impressive production. But he has been exposed so far this season, and his performance against the Dolphins made it beyond obvious that they need more help or risk losing more games due to the underwhelming defense."
"Although he is 34 years old and spent the offseason not on a team, there are plenty of reasons for the Patriots to get on the phone with Gilmore and see if he'd be willing to join the team. He has made it clear that he is willing to wait for the right situation, preferably a contender, which the Patriots are not even close to being."
Christian Gonzalez emerged as a top Patriots player after his 2023 first-round selection despite missing most of his rookie season. Carlton Davis III's signing promised a dominant cornerback duo, but Gonzalez's hamstring injury since July 28 has prevented that pairing. The Patriots struggled in the opener against the Raiders and again versus the Dolphins, exposing weaknesses in the secondary. Alex Austin, the fill-in starter, produced well in 2024 but has been exposed this season, particularly against the Dolphins. Fans have called for reinforcements, with Stephon Gilmore as a prominent possible addition. Gilmore is 34, spent the offseason unsigned, and prefers joining a contender.
Read at Musket Fire
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]