Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Sends Clear Message on Drake Maye & Christian Gonzalez's Future

Kraft says the team plans to keep the two key players around for the long term.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:54am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold navy, red, and white hues depicts the action of a football game, with players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping planes that convey the intensity of the sport.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the dynamic energy of a Patriots game, hinting at the team's plans to lock up key young stars like Christian Gonzalez and Drake Maye for the long haul.Boston Today

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft made it clear that the team plans to keep cornerback Christian Gonzalez and quarterback Drake Maye around for the long term. Gonzalez is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal and is eligible for an extension, while Maye will be up for an extension next offseason. Kraft said the team will try to sign both players, though they have to work within the salary cap. Patriots executive Elliot Wolf also praised Gonzalez as a 'tremendous player' and 'one of the best at his position'.

Why it matters

Keeping Gonzalez and Maye long-term is crucial for the Patriots as they look to build a contending roster around young talent. Gonzalez emerged as an elite cornerback in 2025, while Maye had a promising rookie season at quarterback. Retaining these two key players will be a priority for the Patriots as they aim to return to the playoffs.

The details

Christian Gonzalez is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal and is eligible for an extension. The Patriots can exercise a fifth-year option on him for 2027 that would pay him $18.1 million. Meanwhile, Drake Maye will be up for an extension next offseason as he enters his third NFL season. Gonzalez had a strong 2025 season, finishing with 69 tackles, 10 passes defended, and making some highlight-reel plays in the Super Bowl despite the loss. Patriots executive Elliot Wolf praised Gonzalez as a 'tremendous player' and 'one of the best at his position'.

  • Gonzalez is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal.
  • Maye will be up for an extension next offseason, as he enters his third NFL season.
  • Gonzalez can have his fifth-year option exercised for the 2027 season, which would pay him $18.1 million.

The players

Robert Kraft

The owner of the New England Patriots.

Christian Gonzalez

A star cornerback for the New England Patriots who is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal.

Drake Maye

The quarterback for the New England Patriots who will be up for an extension next offseason as he enters his third NFL season.

Elliot Wolf

The executive vice president of player personnel for the New England Patriots.

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What they’re saying

“Well, we always try. We have a salary cap, so we have a limit. So, we have to think (about) what's best for the team in terms of timing, of the signing and of course, the earlier you do it, it's believed it's more economically satisfactory. But we leave that to Mike Vrabel, Elliot Wolf and our people making contract decisions. We're lucky to have those two players and I hope and believe they'll be with us for the long term.”

— Robert Kraft, Owner, New England Patriots

“Yeah, Christian is a tremendous player. There's no secret we'd like to get something done with him. He's a great talent. He's one of the best players at his position in the NFL. He's developing as a leader… He's really just scratching the surface. He's already up there as an elite talent and we think he can improve even more.”

— Elliot Wolf, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel, New England Patriots

What’s next

The Patriots will need to work on contract extensions for both Christian Gonzalez and Drake Maye in the coming months and years. They have the option to exercise Gonzalez's fifth-year option for 2027, but will likely try to sign him to a long-term deal sooner. Maye's extension will be a priority next offseason as he enters his third NFL season.

The takeaway

Retaining Christian Gonzalez and Drake Maye is a top priority for the Patriots as they look to build a contending roster around young talent. Gonzalez has emerged as an elite cornerback, while Maye showed promise as a rookie quarterback. Keeping these two key players long-term will be crucial for the Patriots' future success.