It was a bit of a draft day surprise when top-ranked defensive back Christian Gonzalez tumbled down the board on day one before ending up falling right into the New England Patriots lap at number seventeen overall. That tumble however seems to have worked out for both parties as Gonzalez has been a lockdown corner right away for this Bill Belichick defense.
In the last two weeks, Gonzalez has been asked to cover some of the best receivers in the NFL in Garrett Wilson and Tyreek Hill, both of whom play in the same division as Gonzalez, who was clearly up to the challenge. In those two games combined Gonzalez held both Hill and Wilson to just two catches for five yards. This feat by Gonzalez is astonishing when you consider that no one else who has faced these teams has been able to cover either of these receivers, who both popped off in their other games in the season.
Garrett Wilson Vs Christian Gonzalez. pic.twitter.com/ailOT3Cbib
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) September 24, 2023
Gonzalez is proving all of his believers right and adapting a skillset that made him projected at the top of many draft boards. It is scary to think he is this good already in just the third game of his career, and given his unreal physical potential, Gonzalez could claim the top cornerback spot sooner rather than later.
With the breakout of Gonzalez as well as Sauce Gardner, Xavien Howard, Tre’Davious White, and Jalen Ramsey all in the same division, the AFC East looks like they boast the best secondary out of any division, and it doesn’t even look remotely close.
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