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ESPN’s Bill Barnwell put together a hypothetical list of what NFL players would be worth in a trade. New England Patriots star cornerback Christian Gonzalez made the list, and his value was listed at two first-round draft picks.
It's a worthy haul for a 24-year-old defender who is already considered one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
Gonzalez has an All-Pro and Pro Bowl nod on his resume entering his fourth NFL season. His suffocating coverage skills against elite-level opposition, combined with his ability to elevate his game in clutch moments, are a big reason why he might become the highest-paid cornerback in the league at some point.
Whether that's with the Patriots or not remains to be seen, but the team appears to be doing whatever it can to ensure they hold onto one of their best players.
Barnwell wrote:
"The Sauce Gardner trade pegged the going rate for elite young cornerbacks as two first-rounders. Gonzalez is an even better player than Gardner, combining outstanding man coverage ability with excellent tackling and better work against the run. The only weakness you could point to from Bill Belichick's final first-round pick is health; Gonzalez has missed 17 games over his first three seasons with various injuries."
The Patriots picked up the fifth-year option for Gonzalez, giving the team through 2027 to negotiate a new deal if needed. However, there are real questions as to whether Gonzalez would be willing to play for the $4.8 million he is currently set to make in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Projected value of Christian Gonzalez revealed in hypothetical trade
