Christian Gonzalez was absent from the New England Patriots' voluntary offseason training activities in 2026 as he becomes eligible for a contract extension. He is scheduled to earn $4 million in the 2026 season under his rookie contract.

Gonzalez was drafted by the Patriots in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. His rookie season ended abruptly due to a shoulder injury. In 2024, he was named a second-team All-Pro. He helped the Patriots reach the Super Bowl at the end of the 2025 season and held Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to 27 receiving yards in that game.

His absence from voluntary workouts aligns with growing expectations that Gonzalez will seek a new contract before returning to practice. "He is not going to play for $4 million," reporter Tom Curran said. Curran added, "He should be making 32-35 million dollars a year. He is not going to take a rep in anger until he is being paid commensurate to what he has to do."

Gonzalez’s potential new deal comes as cornerback salaries have surged across the league. Patrick Surtain signed a four-year, $96 million contract in 2024. Trent McDuffie signed a four-year, $124 million contract with the Rams in 2026, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

If negotiations do not conclude before training camp, Gonzalez is potentially at risk of a holdout. His absence from voluntary OTAs represents the first public signal of his stance on his contractual future with the Patriots.