Gonzalez is in the middle of a superb sophomore season.
Aaron Rodgers knows a thing or two about cornerback play, having gone up against quite a few of them over the course of his 20-year NFL career. So, when the New York Jets’ outspoken starting quarterback deems you an elite player it probably is not a backhanded complement.
In the case of Christian Gonzalez, applying just that label is not a far-fetched concept. And that is exactly what Rodgers did on a new episode of ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show when asked about the Jets’ upcoming Thursday night game against the New England Patriots.
“I think he’s a great player,” Rodgers said about the sophomore defender. “He was in our rehab at the Achilles factory in the offseason. Wasn’t rehabbing an Achilles, but he was out there. Got to know him just a little bit. He’s a great kid. He’s super, super talented. I mean, he is an elite player.”
“Christian Gonzalez is a great player and I got to know him a little bit this offseason..
He’s a great kid and he’s super talented”@AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Nz8v90B3aN
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 17, 2024
Gonzalez arrived in the NFL as the Patriots’ first-round selection in the 2023 draft. Despite being just the third cornerback off the board, he wasted no time putting his immense talent on show against some of the best wide receivers in the game.
Through the first three games of his career, he matched up against the likes of A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill and Garrett Wilson, and held his own against all of them. And while a shoulder injury cut what started to look like a possible Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign short in Week 4, Gonzalez’s outlook appeared to be very bright.
Two weeks into his sophomore campaign it looks like he picked up right where he left off, and then some. Seeing extensive 1-on-1 snaps against Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase and Seattle’s DK Metcalf over the first two games of the year, he continued to display his CB1 potential: between the two star receivers, he gave up a combined seven catches for just 42 yards.
He did so while also showcasing a trait held in high regard by Rodgers: the flexibility to move all over the secondary, and not just stick to one side throughout the game.
“Christian’s one of those guys who enjoys a challenge, enjoys competition and will go side-to-side,” the future Hall of Famer said.
The expectation is that the 22-year-old, who is the second-youngest player on the Patriots roster behind quarterback Drake Maye, will continue playing a similar role in Week 3 against Rodgers and the Jets. And just like last year, he will likely see his fair share of reps against New York’s No. 1 wide receiver, Garrett Wilson.
In the two player’s meeting in 2023, Gonzalez kept Wilson to three catches and 18 yards. A similar output on Thursday — especially considering the Jets’ upgrade at quarterback from Zach Wilson to Rodgers — would be a definitive positive for New England.