Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez named one of the top 100 players in NFL

As one of the NFL’s best defensive backs, Christian Gonzalez, a cornerback with the Patriots, is gaining more and more recognition throughout the league.

In the NFL’s annual top 100 players poll, the 23-year-old cornerback was placed No. 84 overall, with Gonzalez perhaps being the only player from New England to make the list.

The 2025 NFL Top 100 Players: @PatriotsCB Christian Gonzalez enters the race at position 84!EzDPHfY2vK @NFLFilmspic.twitter.com

NFL players’ polling is used to create the annual rankings, and during the NFL’s video package, a few well-known players sent Gonzalez flowers.

According to Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey, Gonzalez’s closing speed is exceptional due to his fluidity and ability to get downhill on breaks, even when he may not have a step.

It might be argued that Gonzalez should have been ranked even higher after becoming one of the league’s finest cover corners in 2024, even if he received some attention from his peers.

Gonzalez, one of the few bright spots on the 2024 Patriots squad, had a season-ending shoulder injury after displaying a lot of promise as a rookie in 2023.

The 2023 NFL Draft’s 17th overall pick finished the previous season with 16 games played, 59 total tackles, two interceptions, 11 pass deflections, and one fumble recovery. He was selected to the All-Pro Second Team in recognition of his accomplishments.

Gonzalez, an Oregon product, will be one of the leaders of a redesigned Patriots defense under Mike Vrabel in 2025. He will start at cornerback with free-agent acquisition Carlton Davis.

We can only play cat coverage, hopefully. I have this cat, and you have this cat. When Gonzalez and Davis were working together in March, Vrabel remarked, “And we can go to work.”The best thing about seeing CD, in my opinion, is that even if they catch a ball on him, he simply lines back up and challenges and competes.

Since 2023, Conor Ryan has worked as a staff writer for Boston.com, covering the Boston Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.