Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez hasn’t spoken yet with his new head coach.
But Mike Vrabel has won Gonzalez over anyway, based solely on his reputation.
“He knows how to win. He’s done it,” Gonzalez told the Herald. “So (I’m) really just excited to see what it’s about.”
Gonzalez and fellow Pats cornerback Jonathan Jones opened up Wednesday about the early stages of their offseason via video conference from Super Bowl Radio Row in New Orleans. Jones is scheduled to hit free agency next month, but has interest in returning to New England. As for Gonzalez, he cited Vrabel while making a pitch to external free agents on why they should sign with the Patriots.
“Vrabes has won, so he knows what to do,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of young talent, there’s talent here, and we’re hungry to win.”
Jones sounded similarly enthused by Vrabel’s hiring. Unlike Gonzalez, he crossed paths with the 49-year-old headman last month, days after Vrabel’s introductory press conference.
“Mike’s a dog,” the 31-year-old corner said. “I remember doing joint practices with them down there in Tennessee (in 2019), and we were going there fighting. Our team versus their team, that’s just the type of guys he likes around. Just the energy he brings to those guys. He’s definitely going to bring that energy.”
Jones made his own pitch for free agents without citing the head coach.
“Duck boats. We’ve got to get back to the duck boats and winning, man,” Jones said. “So get some good players in, and get the (franchise) back where it needs to be. Back to winning championships.”
The Patriots are currently projected to hold more than $120 million in cap space ahead of free agency, almost $30 million more than any other team. Rising second-year quarterback Drake Maye is among the team’s chief draws, following an impressive rookie campaign. Gonzalez hyped Maye up in a separate interview with NBC Sports, lamenting that had their defense played better, the Patriots may have finished with a better record than 4-13.
“It all starts with Drake. Everybody has seen what Drake can do. We got full faith in Drake. He’s a superstar,” Gonzalez told NBC Sports. “Being able, as a defense, to get more turnovers, to get back to the Patriot defense everybody knows; just getting the ball back. If we do that, and get the ball back to Drake a lot more times, I feel like we could have won a lot more of those games.”
In that same interview, Gonzalez described the difference between playing for Jerod Mayo last year and Bill Belichick during his rookie season of 2023. Vrabel is expected to lead a program that more closely parallels what Belichick ran during his 24-year tenure in New England than Mayo’s operation.
“I would say the building got a little more lax. I mean, that might have hurt us,” Gonzalez said of the 2024 season. “I would probably say it got a little more lax.”
Asked to name a teammate who could potentially break out next season, Gonzalez singled out fellow cornerback Alex Austin. Beset by injury for half the year, Austin made three starts in nine game appearances. He recorded nine tackles and five game appearances.
In 2023, Austin joined the Patriots as a midseason signing off Houston’s practice squad. The Oregon State product played in five games and snatched a brilliant interception of Bills quarterback Josh Allen during a late-season loss. Austin projects to be in the team’s rotation next season, assuming the Patriots opt to retain him on a one-year, league-minimum deal as an exclusive-rights free agent.
Per league rules, exclusive rights free agents cannot negotiate with other teams.
“I know what (Austin) can do,” Gonzalez said. “Whenever his number was called, he went out there and did what he had to do, and did it at a high level. Brings a high level of energy to the room, so I’m excited to see what he’ll do.”
Jones named veteran safety Kyle Dugger as his breakout candidate. Dugger struggled with a high ankle sprain for most of last season, when he ranked among the worst-performing safeties in the league. Since then, Dugger opened up to the Herald, explaining he received daily treatment and later underwent tightrope surgery to stabilize the ankle.
Dugger is expected to make a full recovery within three months.
“Just wanna see (Dugger) get back to being healthy,” Jones said. “He battled through a lot of injuries last year. (I) just want to see him get back to the player we all know he is.”
Jones and Gonzalez made sponsored appearances Wednesday on behalf of Bounty.
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