Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is gaining more attention for his impressive second season by being nominated as a finalist for the 2024 AP Comeback Player of the Year.
After starting his first four games in 2023, Gonzalez’s rookie season was cut short by a torn labrum during New England’s loss to the Cowboys in Week 4. He missed the rest of his rookie year, but made a strong recovery and was named to the AP All-Pro second team in 2024.
Now, he’s a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year, with the winner being announced at the NFL Honors on February 6, 2025, in Las Vegas before Super Bowl LIX. The past six winners have been quarterbacks, including Joe Flacco, Geno Smith, Joe Burrow, Alex Smith, Ryan Tannehill, and Andrew Luck.
Gonzalez, who is the Patriots’ top cornerback, was a standout in man coverage for a defense that ranked second in the NFL for playing man-to-man coverage (45.3%). Despite being assigned to cover top receivers each week, Gonzalez ranked seventh in passer rating (70.5) and 10th in completion rate (54.8%) among 77 qualifying corners.
He also had two interceptions, seven pass breakups, and a fumble return for a touchdown during his second-team All-Pro season.
Throughout the season, Gonzalez matched up against some of the best wide receivers in the league. He covered players like Ja’Marr Chase, Tyreek Hill, Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Davante Adams. In Week 1, he held Chase to just three catches for 15 yards, and in Week 15, he shut down Harrison Jr., allowing just one catch for 23 yards.
In that game against the talented rookie Harrison Jr., Gonzalez faced him on 21 routes, allowing just one catch for 23 yards on five targets, and he broke up two passes. His excellent man coverage skills were evident, as he showcased his long reach, smooth hip movements, and speed.
According to NextGen Stats, Gonzalez forces a tight-window percentage of 73.3% on his deep targets, the second-best mark among cornerbacks over the last two seasons. He was also the only cornerback who didn’t allow a touchdown on a deep target this season (with at least 10 targets).
As the Patriots look ahead to a new era with head coach Mike Vrabel, Gonzalez is a key player on their defense. Like rookie QB Drake Maye is for the offense, Gonzalez is a valuable talent that New England can build around to return to their winning ways. His success shows how important it is for teams to draft well, like when the Patriots selected him 17th overall in 2023.
The AP All-Pro and Comeback Player of the Year nomination highlights that Gonzalez is already one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL as he prepares for his third season with the Patriots.
