Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez debuts on NFL Top 100 Players list

The 23-year-old earned second-team All-Pro honors last season.

A year after being shut out of the NFL Top 100 Players list, the New England Patriots are back on the board.

Christian Gonzalez has made his debut at No. 84 around the league entering 2025, as voted on by peers.

The 23-year-old cornerback started 16 games last season in Foxborough, ranking atop the defense with 978 snaps played. He had a hand in 59 tackles, 11 passes defended and a pair of interceptions. A fumble recovery also arrived along the way, becoming his first career touchdown from 63 yards out.

“It’s a hard system that they run, so he’s definitely like following a lot of No. 1 receivers,” Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson said of Gonzalez. “And watching that, I mean, that’s always going to be a challenge when you have to go against No. 1 receivers every single game.”

“The guy that was on our radar that whole week,” Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride told NFL Films. “… You know, a lockdown corner for the Patriots and a guy who’s a great player. So, he has a bright future in this league and I’m excited to watch that.”

“His smoothness and his ability to get downhill on breaks, it seems like even when he might not have a step, he just — his closing speed is next level,” added Baltimore Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey.

Gonzalez, who saw his rookie campaign of 2023 end on injured reserve due to a torn labrum, was named an AP second-team All-Pro and a finalist for NFL Comeback Player of the Year in January.

The former No. 17 overall pick by way of Colorado and Oregon marks New England’s first player on the NFL Top 100 since outside linebacker Matthew Judon in 2023.