The list of impact players from the 2023 NFL Draft who are still waiting for contract extensions continues to shrink.
The latest domino fell Tuesday when the Chicago Bears agreed to a four-year, $116 million extension with right tackle Darnell Wright, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The deal includes a staggering $93 million in guaranteed money.
He's far from the only member of that draft class to get paid. Wide receivers Zay Flowers and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have signed extensions of their own, as have running back Bijan Robinson and defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Around the league, front offices have wasted little time locking up the cornerstones they drafted just three years ago, which makes Christian Gonzalez's situation feel increasingly uncomfortable for Patriots fans.
It's not that New England has shown any hesitation about paying its star cornerback. In fact, owner Robert Kraft has publicly acknowledged the Patriots have already offered Gonzalez a deal that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history and the richest contract in Patriots history. The concern is that while nearly every other franchise has managed to finish business with its young stars, Gonzalez remains one of the last elite first-round picks from the 2023 class still waiting for a new contract.
Every extension that gets announced naturally shifts the spotlight back to Foxborough.
The Patriots have experienced enough drawn-out contract negotiations over the years that supporters have reason to be skeptical whenever a franchise player remains unsigned. Whether it was homegrown stars eventually leaving or extensions dragging into uncomfortable territory, history has taught Patriots fans that silence during negotiations can sometimes be a bad sign.
That's why every passing extension around the league only adds to the anxiety.
So why isn't there a signature on the dotted line?
The answer may have less to do with the Patriots than it does with another star corner on the opposite side of the country.
Seattle Seahawks standout defensive back Devon Witherspoon also remains unsigned, and that's the biggest reason Patriots fans shouldn't panic just yet.
The situations surrounding Gonzalez and Witherspoon are remarkably similar. Both were selected in the first round of the 2023 draft. Both have developed into franchise cornerstones. Both are represented by the same agent. And perhaps most importantly, both are trying to maximize their value in a rapidly changing cornerback market. In fact, multiple reports indicate that the two negotiations are directly connected.
GOOD NEWS?! Has Christian Gonzalez received an offer?
Is Witherspoon the reason for the delay? Could he be the highest paid defensive back ever?? Thoughts on Kraft's comments? Let's hear from Patriots owner Robert Kraft #Patriots #NFL #ChristianGonzalez pic.twitter.com/oiPblcGxQu
— WEEI (@WEEI) July 27, 2026
The expectation around the league has been that Witherspoon's extension would likely come first and establish the latest benchmark for elite cornerbacks. Gonzalez's deal would then follow shortly afterward, using that contract as the newest measuring stick.
None of this guarantees an agreement, but the fact that Witherspoon remains unsigned provides a small amount of reassurance in an otherwise frustrating situation.
The Patriots know they've found a franchise cornerstone. Gonzalez knows he's earned one of the richest contracts ever given to a cornerback. Now it's simply a matter of determining exactly how historic that contract will be… and whether he will receive it from the Patriots.
