Patriots cornerback preview: With Christian Gonzalez locking down one side of the field, this position is in good hands

Boston Globe

5 days ago

By the numbers:
88:
Davis has started 88 regular-season games in his career. more than the rest of the Patriots cornerbacks combined.
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978:
Gonzalez's defensive snaps in 2024, tops on the team. He played 100 percent of the defensive snaps in eight of the 17 games last year.
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The skinny:
Coming back from a shoulder injury that limited him to four games as a rookie,
'You can talk about him however you want. All you have to do is turn on the tape,' former Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino said last season after Gonzalez was one of the more notable Pro Bowl snubs. 'If guys aren't talking about him, that's negligence. I don't know. The guy is playing at a very high level. I don't care what anybody says. That's how I feel about the guy. He's a great competitor.
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'The thing that makes him an even better competitor? He doesn't care about any of the awards. He just wants to win.'
Carlton Davis should be a real upgrade across from Christian Gonzalez at cornerback.
Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press
This season, the newly acquired Davis will be opposite Gonzalez. A veteran with impressive length, he's a physical presence who thrived in the Lions' man-heavy scheme last year. His background with new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams should also help when it comes to getting up to speed as soon as possible. Look for Jones as the primary slot corner, while Austin, Bolden, Battle, and Dial figure to provide depth and special teams value.
That being said, this position is all about Gonzalez. He's a cornerstone of the defense and is only getting better. Given his rapid ascent in just two seasons, it's feasible to one day imagine him taking his spot alongside some of the great defensive backs in franchise history. As long as he's a Patriot (he could be in line for a colossal payday as early as next offseason) this group will be considered one of the best in the AFC. If he and Davis can stay healthy (the 28-year-old never played a full season), this group could be poised for an impressive 2025.
Related
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How does this position rate against the rest of the league?
With Gonzalez and Davis, the top of the depth chart is among the best in the league. With a few exceptions (including Jones), the rest of the group is relatively young and unproven, but the ceiling remains high.
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Quote of note:
'It's going to be awesome, just learning and playing with [Davis]. I mean, he's played in the Super Bowl, so he's seen at the highest level. He's done it. So that's only not great for me but for the whole room to just have his voice, and just pick up tips from him [any way you] can. He can learn from us, so we can learn from him.'
— Gonzalez, on the opportunity to play opposite Davis.
Biggest story lines:
Can Gonzalez continue his progression into the league's elite? Is Davis, who won the Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2020, capable of staying healthy and serving as a mentor for some of the young corners on the roster? Will they miss the leadership skills of Jonathan Jones, a veteran who left for the Commanders in free agency? Do the Patriots have enough depth at the position?
Christopher Price can be reached at