NFL Coach Has High Praise For Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez continues to earn respect around the league.
“I think Gonzo is the next great one,” a veteran NFL assistant told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who published the top 10 cornerback rankings Thursday.
Gonzalez, who’s never crept into the top 10, ranked sixth. At least one voter, a group made up of executives, coaches and scouts, ranked the 2023 first-rounder No. 1 overall. Gonzalez also went unranked on one voter’s slip.
“Skills, patience, length,” the NFL assistant added. “He’s the closest thing to Pat (Surtain II). Smooth, big athlete, travels a lot, can matchup against the best guy.”
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After being named the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, Surtain unsurprisingly ranked first overall. It marked the second consecutive season the Denver Broncos cornerback topped the list.
Houston Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr., Cleveland Browns’ Denzel Ward, Kansas City Chiefs’ Trent McDuffie and New York Jets’ Sauce Gardner rounded out the top five.
Gonzalez is the only Patriots player to earn a spot in ESPN’s exercise, which ranked every position group through the eyes of executives, coaches and scouts.