DRAFT Christian Gonzalez

[Jim Beankie]

A ‘what’s not to be happy about?’ pick. One question though, surely covered somewhere, but wonder why even take the risk that he’d be scooped up before 17?

Obvious reason is they had others graded the same, or comparably, but wonder who would’ve been the pick if he was gone.

Groh's press conference covered this. Pats got greedy like my bypassing the open parking spot (but having someone stand in it to claim it) to try to get a little closer during XMas shopping.

On if he had a sense when they made the trade that Christian might still be there at #17:

“There was a feeling that he still might be available. We thought he was a good player, would have certainly understood if he wasn’t [available]. You listed off those teams but we had just traded, so you can’t just count on, ‘O.K., well, we know these teams, they’re not going to take a corner, or whatnot,’ it changes so quickly. So it’s tough to say, really, ‘O.K., well, this guy’s going to be there,’ I think it really came more down to having a comfort level on multiple players. To be able to pick up a pick, and really just give us that much more currency in the fourth round, couldn’t guarantee that Christian was going to be there, but felt good that a player that we felt good about would be there.”

 

[denverpatsfan]

Starting to see the value in this pick. Thanks for posting stats and scouting reports on him. Onto day 2

 

[rochrist]

Speak of the devil...and he shall appear lmao. I do not consider myself an expert at all but I challenge you to show me a single piece of evidence that suggests Gonzalez can deliver tone-setting tackling nor any semblance of an attempt to deliver one. Press is a state of mind, not a body type. The boy has the body type to do it but as Bill Parcells famously said, "You can't teach a puppy that doesn't bite how to bite as a dog."

Apparently you're unable to watch video.

 

[jays52]

Apparently you're unable to watch video.

Show me a single piece of evidence disproving what I said.

 

[RodThePat]

Who plays LT this year?

Trent Brown should be a lot better with a return to a familiar blocking scheme and Strange developing. Expect them to add a tackle tonight as well.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Why not just Jones period. Welcome to the Pats, Christian Jones.

Because it's funnier as Joneszalez.

 

[Patsgofor4]

 

[Zuma]

I wanted an OT but I’m happy with this pick. Hopefully an OT in round 2 or 3.

 

[rochrist]

Who plays LT this year?

​

Matthew Bergeron from Syracuse.

 

[jays52]

HOW ODDLY FAMILIAR OMG! THOSE SCOUTS SHOULD BE CHASTISED FOR THEIR ACCURATE EVALUATION OF THE PLAYER!

 

[rochrist]

Show me a single piece of evidence disproving what I said.

Why should I do your research for you? I saw plenty of decent tackling on video. He isn't Duggar, but he doesn't need to be.

 

[jays52]

Why should I do your research for you? I saw plenty of decent tackling on video. He isn't Duggar, but he doesn't need to be.

That's a cope and a cop out and you know it. You challenged me, I didn't challenge you. You were terse and rude in your post. Which is fine provided one can validate it. If one wants to challenge the opinion of another the onus is on them to disprove it. And you cannot. Therefore you were simply being an ******* and acting off of emotion. If you would like to provide evidence disproving my evaluation you are welcome to. I will review it with an open mind and willingness to revise my opinion and apologize for being incorrect. However you cannot present this evidence and therefore were just being a ****. Shame on you.

 

[patfanken]

Well it's nice to hear all the accolades this pick has garnered. But here's the thing, and this goes for ALL the picks, the hardest thing to gauge in a player is what is going on in his head. It is a good INDICATOR that Chris has a 9,95 RAS. But it will mean nothing if he isn't obsessed with being a great player....if he doesn't have the fire.

I've seen enough in the limited tape I've watched to believe that he's NOT afraid of contact and will be a willing if not eager run supporter. That is NOT the fire I'm talking about. My questions about Gonzales run to his "swag" and the need to be the best. IS the fact that he is SO athletic and smooth that it all comes TOO easy for him?

At the next level the question isn't about "failure". They ALL fail a certain percentage of plays. It is how you RESPOND to that failure in the next play...because there will always BE a next play. It's the thing that made guys like Meyers, Jonathan Jones, etc go from being UDFA's to having really nice careers.

From what we have heard Gonzales is a good kid with an excellent work ethic, so that's not a question. Gonzales will end up being at worst, a solid NFL starting CB. But whether he becomes the guy who ends up being "one of the steals of the first round", and the guy we all HOPE he becomes, will depend on what is going on between his ears, The problem in evaluation is that you can never be 100% sure one way or the other. I strongly believe it is the LACK of fire that was behind Wynn's failure

Now will someone tell me what it is going to take to add another 2nd day pick today.

 

[BB8XSBW]

From breaking down his film, this guy looks significantly more talented than Gilmore and Revis combined when they were here. What an absolute steal.

In just one night, Bill Belichick teabagged the entire NFL more than he has done for the last 22 when he single handedly won us 6 Super Bowls.

 

[Triumph]

The draft isn't over and the defense was definitely an issue last season.

The Pats have a knack for finding DBs late or undrafted.

I just do not see RB and Defense as # 1 problem areas. Plus, a strong offense can keep your defense off the field.

It seems like BB loves to hear praise about a player that he drafted from the bargain basement.

 

[Keyser Söze]

The Pats have a knack for finding DBs late or undrafted.

I just do not see RB and Defense as # 1 problem areas. Plus, a strong offense can keep your defense off the field.

It seems like BB loves to hear praise about a player that he drafted from the bargain basement.

Christ are you a whiner, are you this insufferable in person?

 

[VJCPatriot]

The thing you need to keep in mind about Christian Gonzalez is that the kid is still only 20 years old. He's one of the youngest prospects in the draft and hasn't even begun to scrape his ceiling yet.

What is quickly apparent is that he's got the athletic toolbox to become one of the premium cornerbacks in the NFL. That RAS score of 9.95 shows a rare mix of size, and quickness, and most notably the fluidity to turn, mirror, and run with the best wide receivers.

And guess what team happens to be one of the leading pro football factories in terms of producing pro-bowl talent at the cornerback position? That's right it's New England.

I don't know what kind of coaching they get here, but we've turned low round picks into Pro-Bowlers.

4th round picks Asante Samuel, pro bowler, UDFA Malcolm Butler pro bowler, UDFA JC Jackson pro bowler.

We even signed Gilmore from Buffalo and elevated his game from a pro-bowler to a 2x all-pro selection with the Patriots!

So if there's any team that could elevate a cornerback's game to the next level, it's the Patriots.

And when you start with young moldable clay like Christian Gonzalez with his very athletic traits and family background of athleticism [father and sister are all athletic], and match that with one of the best cornerback coaching in pro sports the sky's really the limit for this kid. All reports indicate that he has a great work ethic as well so that should fit in very well with New England, where professionalism and hard work are all expected and demanded.

This article does a good job discussing Gonzalez' very high ceiling while also discussing some weaknesses that he needs to improve at the next level: Why Christian Gonzalez has the highest ceiling of any cornerback in the 2023 NFL Draft

Although most wide receivers that faced him personally commented that the best part of his game is that he has very few weaknesses.

 

[Triumph]

Christ are you a whiner, are you this insufferable in person?

Everything that I posted is fact.

GFY

 

[italian pat patriot]

A great great first draft day ! What we needed !!!

 

[Vindicate]

Pats are great at coaching up DBs. You look at Malcolm Butler and JC Jackson and Jonathon Jones, 3 undrafted CBs who became very good CBs. Now you take the top rated CB in the draft, who is more skilled than all 3 of those players, and first turns 21 in June. Man, this secondary has so much potential. Great speed with González, and Marcus Jones and Jonathan Jones. Add in Dugger who is really skilled. Mills may take McCourty’s place. Adrian Phillips and Jabrill Peppers. Really like this secondary. González just makes this secondary so much better.

Also, to people concerned about his demeanor when it was announced he was going to the Patriots just need to remember: the Patriots, hands down, are the best place for good CBs to play and get a massive contract afterwards. Gonzalez is primed for good living if he adapts to the NFL well.