The New England Patriots don’t have a ton of elite talent. But there’s no question that Christian Gonzalez is one of the top players at his position.

The 23-year-old cornerback is the first — and likely the only — Patriots player to be featured in the NFL’s annual top 100 players ranking.

The latest batch of players to make the list was announced earlier this week, and Gonzalez came in at No. 84. That ranking feels a little too low for Gonzalez. That said, 2025 is probably the first of many years the University of Oregon product will be featured on this list.

Gonzalez made a strong debut for the Patriots in 2023, but his rookie campaign ended after just four games due to injury. He returned for Year 2 and had a breakout season.

Gonzalez tallied 59 total tackles, two interceptions, 11 pass deflections and one fumble recovery in 16 games last season. He was voted to the All-Pro second team.

His ability to cover No. 1 wide receivers at a high level drew a lot of praise from opposing players and coaches. Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters after a Week 11 win over the Patriots that Gonzalez “is the real deal” and “does an excellent job.”

The Patriots spent a lot of money in free agency to bolster their defense for 2025, and one of their additions was veteran cornerback Carlton Davis. Gonzalez and Davis have the potential to be one of the league’s top cornerback tandems — something the Patriots haven’t had in several years.

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