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Christian Gonzales to New England Patriots,17th Pick

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GONZALEZ SELECTED NO. 17 OVERALL BY PATRIOTS

 

With the 17th overall pick, the New England Patriots have selected former Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

 

Gonzalez becomes the fourth Oregon prospect in as many years to be a first-round draft pick, joining Kayvon Thibodeaux (2022), Penei Sewell (2021), and Justin Herbert (2020).


As one of the strongest cornerback prospects in the draft, Gonzalez is coming off a stellar 2022-2023 campaign with the Ducks. Gonzalez, who transferred from Colorado, followed cornerback coach Demetrice Martin to Oregon, his same coach in Boulder.

 

In his lone season as a Duck, Gonzalez came down with four interceptions, 51 tackles, and seven passes defended. Gonzalez finished the season with an 81.2 PFF defensive grade, leading Oregon's defense while playing the second-highest total snaps.

 

247SPORTS.COM

Former Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez drafted No. 17 overall by the New England Patriots.
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BREAKING: Christian Gonzalez selected by New England Patriots with No. 17 overall pick

 

The streak of Oregon Duck players being drafted in the first round has grown, with cornerback Christian Gonzalez being selected by the New England Patriots with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

 

After a strong 2022 season in Eugene, there was little doubt that Gonzalez would be a first-round draft pick and one of the first cornerbacks off the board. This is now the fourth year in a row that a Duck has been selected in the first round.

 

DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

Welcome to New England, Christian. We’ve got a new Pro Duck in the mix, with Gonzalez going to the Patriots with the No. 17 overall pick.

 

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New England Patriots selection of Christian Gonzalez receives outstanding draft grade

 

When you can trade back in the first round, and end up picking a player who many believe fell as many as seven picks further than he should have, then you’re most likely going to make out pretty well in the NFL Draft.

 

According to USA TODAY’s Touchdown Wire, New England’s decision to select Christian Gonzalez at No. 17 overall was an absolute no-brainer. The site graded the first-round pick as an A+.

 

Most believe New England being able to select Gonzalez at No. 17 was a steal. There was less than a one percent chance the Oregon corner would be available at that spot.

 

DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

Christian Gonzalez fell to the New England Patriots. They got an outstanding draft grade for taking him at No. 17.
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Everything the national media is saying after Christian Gonalez's draft selection

 

Oregon Ducks cornerback Christian Gonzalez was drafted by the New England Patriots on Thursday night with the No. 17 overall pick, making him the fourth consecutive Duck to go in the first round of the draft.

 

The fact that Gonzalez made it all the way to the No. 17 pick was a surprise to many, since the former Duck was projected to go as early as No. 8. Others thought he would likely end up being drafted in the range of 10-12, but instead he fell for whatever reason, and became the third cornerback taken off of the board.

 

However, it may end up working out for Gonzalez, who now lands with a New England Patriots squad that has historically been great at coaching the CB position under head coach Bill Belichick.

 

Here is how some of the most notable national media members reacted to the selection.

 

DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

Steal of the draft? National media members had high praise for the Patriots taking Christian Gonzalez at No. 17.
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Just in case you weren't watching on tv...

 

 

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Congrats Gonzo! I saw three mock drafts this week that had  you going as high as #4 to the Colts if they didn't lose their mind and take Florida QB Anthony Richardson at # 4. Alas, they lost their mind and took Richardson whom I think  may be the worst pick of the entire first round. IMHO Richardson is a high risk of becoming JaMarcus Russell 2.0.

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Very disappointing. Gonzalez was the third DB drafted. I'm a Washington (D.C.) fan, and I was shocked they had a chance to pick him at 16. Then they went and picked a different DB! What??? 

 

Gonzalez had a one percent chance of dropping to #17 by experts. By almost no measure was going 17 a good night. I suppose going to a team that has had great DB's (from Oregon) is a plus.

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Pats fan here who loves this pick. The young man has the chance to be one of the NFL's top CBs.

 

As to not being physical enough. This was what we heard when Deion Sanders was drafted; worked out pretty well for the Falcons.

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Christian Gonzalez becomes Ducks' highest-drafted CB since 1996

 

When Christian Gonzalez transferred from Colorado to Oregon after the 2021 season, the Ducks hoped they were getting steady starter to plug a key hole while Gonzalez hoped to boost his draft stock under a bigger spotlight in Eugene.

 

Needless to say now, that pairing couldn't have worked out better for either side.

 

Gonzalez was drafted No. 17 overall in the first round of the NFL draft by the New England Patriots on Thursday night.

 

That makes it four straight years that Oregon has produced a first-round draft pick, but Gonzalez is the first Ducks cornerback -- or defensive back of any kind -- to go in the first round since Alex Molden went 11th overall in 1996. Only four Oregon defensive backs have ever been selected in the first round including Mario Clark (No. 18 | 1976) and Jim Smith (No. 12 | 1968).

 

Gonzalez earned it by tallying 50 tackles, 4 interceptions (the first of his college career) and 7 pass breakups for the Ducks last fall, garnering first-team All-Pac-12 status.

 

OREGON.RIVALS.COM

See highlights from Christian Gonzalez's draft night.
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Every Oregon Ducks player selected in the first round of the NFL draft

 

It’s become a yearly tradition over the past several years, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop any time soon.

 

Once again on Thursday night, the Oregon Ducks had a player drafted in the first round with cornerback Christian Gonzalez being selected by the TK with the No. TK overall pick.

 

Gonzalez is now the 22nd player in Oregon Ducks’ history to be selected in the first round of the draft. He is also the fourth consecutive player to go in the first round for the Ducks, dating back to 2020 when Justin Herbert went to the Los Angeles Chargers. Penei Sewell went to the Detroit Lions in 2021, and Kayvon Thibodeaux was drafted by the New York Giants in 2022.

 

Over the decades, there are now almost two dozen men of Oregon who have heard their names called in the opening round of the draft.

 

Here’s a look at the Duck legends.

 

DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

A total of 22 Oregon players have been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft over the years. Here’s a look at the exclusive...
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Stunner in my mind why Gonzo dropped to the Pat's at #17. Good on them though, they got a steal. The Sea Squawks passed on him at #5 and so did Washington at #16, taking other CBs. Their loss.

 

The knock was that he wasn't 'physical' enough. What I saw on film was him 'nudging' WRs along the sideline and getting into position to get the pick or PBU, or outmuscling them at the point of the ball. At Gonzo's speed and size he will improve his run defense and tackling as a rookie. He'll be the most talented player in the 2023 DB room for the Patriots. Home run hit for Belichick.

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Echos of Patrick Chung here!

 

All the best Christian! I bet you will be first all-star from this year's db class.

 

Those cold winters in Colorado will help you for New England. 

And your first round choice will help coach Meat get better recruits.

 

Go work hard, and show your stuff.

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Projected salary and signing bonus for New England cornerback Christian Gonzalez

 

It’s draft night, and for the last few weeks, Oregon Ducks fans have been speculating where Oregon’s former star CB, Christian Gonzalez will play his pro football next year.

 

Turns out, he is headed to Foxborough to join the New England Patriots’ defense. He was drafted with the 17th overall pick, although most experts expected him to be taken sooner. While the financial compensation of the 17th pick won’t be as substantial as a pick in the top ten, it will still be expansive.

 

Last year, the 17th pick belonged to the Los Angeles Chargers, who picked Zion Johnson, an O-lineman from Boston College. His contract is worth 14.75 million according to OverTheCap, and last year he received a signing bonus of $7.9 million.

 

This year, it seems Gonzalez will be slightly more fortunate than Johnson. Soon, he will sign a four-year contract that is projected by OverTheCap to be worth about $15.69 million. He is also expected to get a signing bonus of $8.41 million.

 

DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

Christian Gonzalez is about to be a very rich man.
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On 4/28/2023 at 5:08 PM, Pennsylvania Duck said:

Projected salary and signing bonus for New England cornerback Christian Gonzalez

 

It’s draft night, and for the last few weeks, Oregon Ducks fans have been speculating where Oregon’s former star CB, Christian Gonzalez will play his pro football next year.

 

Turns out, he is headed to Foxborough to join the New England Patriots’ defense. He was drafted with the 17th overall pick, although most experts expected him to be taken sooner. While the financial compensation of the 17th pick won’t be as substantial as a pick in the top ten, it will still be expansive.

 

Last year, the 17th pick belonged to the Los Angeles Chargers, who picked Zion Johnson, an O-lineman from Boston College. His contract is worth 14.75 million according to OverTheCap, and last year he received a signing bonus of $7.9 million.

 

This year, it seems Gonzalez will be slightly more fortunate than Johnson. Soon, he will sign a four-year contract that is projected by OverTheCap to be worth about $15.69 million. He is also expected to get a signing bonus of $8.41 million.

 

DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

Christian Gonzalez is about to be a very rich man.

Gonzo and Gibbs are examples of guys who late in their college experience hit the portal and made bank.

 

And the beat will most certainly go on; including, many of the transfer portal guys brought in by DL. 

 

 

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Transcript: Christian Gonzalez Press Conference 4/27

 

New England Patriots first round draft pick Christian Gonzalez addresses the media, Thursday, April 27.

 

WWW.PATRIOTS.COM

New England Patriots first round draft pick Christian Gonzalez addresses the media, Thursday, April 27.

 

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Gold: Pac-12 takeaways from the 1st round of the NFL Draft

 

With the 1st round of the 2023 NFL Draft in the books, Pac-12 backers must be shaking their heads at the confluence of events that saw the SEC and Big Ten triple the number of Pac-12 picks, and the Big-12 double them — occasionally using West Coast kids to pad the numbers.

 

The saving grace is that the league’s falling stars found themselves in favorable first-year situations, avoiding the muck of the top 15 and instead heading to some of pro football’s top teams from a year ago.

 

As expected, the SEC and Big Ten dominated the 1st round, with 9 picks each, including the 1st 6 selections (1, 3, 4 for the SEC; 2, 5, 6 for the Big Ten).

 

Less predictable: The Big-12 and ACC also putting the Pac-12 to shame.

 

Six different Big 12 teams had a 1st-round pick, with Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson and Texas running back Bijan Robinson going 7th and 8th, respectively, to the Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons. Last year, the conference did not have a single 1st-rounder.

 

Continue reading article for info about Pac-12 first rounders...

 

SATURDAYOUTWEST.COM

The Pac-12 lagged behind the other Power 5 conferences in Thursdays 1st round of the NFL Draft, proving once more just...

 

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