Tuesday marked an incredibly important day in this country, as the NFL Trade Deadline came-and-went at 4:00 p.m. ET.
With the Patriots sitting at 2-7 on the season, the franchise was naturally being viewed as one that would be a potential seller at the deadline, as contenders looked to move draft capital for depth pieces as we head towards the second half of the season.
Rumors circulated about the possible movement of veterans like Kyle Dugger, K.J. Osborn, Davon Godchaux, Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton.
But it appears the rumors were just that.
Outside of some chatter on Twitter/X, it was a quiet day at 1 Patriot Place, as New England's one deadline-adjacent move came eight days ago with defensive end Josh Uche being traded to Kansas City for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
With the deadline on tap Tuesday morning, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Ty Law was asked by The Greg Hill Show if there was anyone he could see the Patriots moving on from to help bolster their multi-year rebuild.
“Is there anyone on this team that you don’t listen to [offers on]?” asked WEEI’s Greg Hill. “I mean, Christian Gonzalez, or -”
“No,” Law interrupted emphatically. “You don’t wanna give up on Gonzalez. Nah, he’s got too much upside.”
Law went on to say that in addition to Gonzalez, rookie quarterback Drake Maye would also be someone he’d consider untouchable at the deadline.
WEEI’s Jermaine Wiggins agreed with Law.
“Gonzalez and Maye are the only two players on New England that are off limits,” said the former NFL tight end. “You want anybody else, feel free. Because what are you getting in return? Even with Dugger - what are you gonna get, a fifth round pick for him? A fourth round pick, if you’re lucky?”
“Now in business, everything is for sale, you know what I mean?” said Law. “So if you wanna come up and give up two first round draft picks for, you know, Gonzalez or something like that, they might consider that. You know what I mean?
“But those are the only two guys that you see as, like, you can build towards the future with those. You know, everybody else expendable. But if the right price come, you know, they’ll probably do that, too. I mean, it’s a business at the end of the day.”
When Wiggy told Law that he’d be very surprised if that type of haul would come in for Gonzalez, the three-time Super Bowl champion agreed - he was just making the point that there’s always a price tag for everyone.
“I think he has so much upside, you know what I mean?” Law said of the second-year corner out of Oregon. “And, you know, I like him. I like him.”
That’s high praise for a defensive back coming from one of the best defensive backs in the history of the NFL.
Gonzalez is still on the rookie deal he signed after being drafted 17th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
He makes $1.4 million this year, $2.1 million next year, and $2.8 million in 2026. The Patriots have a fifth-year club option on Gonzalez ahead of the 2027 season, where the corner will only be 25-years-old.
Gonzalez does not hit the open market until the spring of 2028.
With all the upside in the world to go along with incredible value, Gonzalez isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
As far as the rest of the roster?
For the remainder of the 2024 regular season, it looks like it is what it is.