College Peers Gush Over Patriots Pick Christian Gonzalez: 'Unicorn'
Despite trading down from No. 14 to 17 with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Round 1 of the NFL Draft, the New England Patriots got their guy in cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Only 20 years old but dripping with size and skill, some experts projected the Oregon star as the best cornerback in the draft.
What exactly are the Patriots getting in Gonzalez?
At the Scouting Combine, our Daniel Flick spoke with a trio of former teammates and opponents who've experienced Gonzalez on the field.
Stanford receiver Michael Wilson, an All-PAC 12 honorable mention and potential Top 100 draft pick, was asked about Gonzalez ... and didn't hide his feelings.
"I think Christian Gonzalez is probably the best corner I've ever went against," Wilson said. "I feel like he's one of those guys that's sort of a unicorn and doesn't have really any weaknesses in his game."
Wilson was described by USC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, a teammate of Gonzalez in 2020 and 2021 at Colorado before each transferred to Oregon, as a "technical, put-together receiver" who's well-rounded.
The 6-2, 210-pound wideout was a standout at the Reese's Senior Bowl, but against Gonzalez and Oregon he mustered only a season-low two receptions for 14 yards. Perspective? A week later, Wilson grabbed six passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns against Washington.
But Gonzalez proved to be too much - in part because he's simply so well-rounded.
"He's long, he's fast, he's a great athlete, he's fluid," Wilson said. "He also has the technical side, and he can compete."
This idea of Gonzalez having no weaknesses proved to be a common trend among those who've faced him - including BYU quarterback Jaren Hall. An All-Independent first-team honoree, Hall was also a participant at the Senior Bowl and figures to be a Day 3 selection.
During his time under center in Provo, Utah, he faced several stout defenses, including Stanford, Notre Dame, Arkansas, USC and Washington State - but there was no hesitation when asked about the toughest corner he faced.
"Christian Gonzalez," Hall said.
Why?
"He's a great player," Hall said. "I couldn't find a lot of flaws in his game at all; no weaknesses. Any side of the field he's on, you have to be aware of him. Great player."
But this wasn't always the expected path for Gonzalez, who hails from The Colony, Texas, just north of Dallas.
The son of a semiprofessional basketball player and brother of two sisters who were track and field All-Americans, Gonzalez was a talented receiver, returner and 200-meter sprinter in high school - and ultimately was ranked as a Top 50 player in the uber-competitive state of Texas ... as a safety.
Cornerback, where Gonzalez is now so dominant, wasn't even the position he was recruited to play when he chose Colorado. He was fortunate to have a pretty solid mentor when transitioning to the corners room prior to the start of his freshman year - Blackmon.
Entering 2020, Blackmon was set to enter his redshirt junior season as a starter, fresh off an injury-riddled campaign. That summer, Blackmon, 21 at the time, took a then-17-year-old Gonzalez "under my wing" and called him his "little brother," helping ease not only the move from high school to college but also safety to corner.
"I knew he was going to be special since the day he got onto the field," Blackmon said.
The two proceeded to start all but four games alongside each other over the next two years, eventually going their separate ways after the 2021 season. Despite that, Blackmon and Gonzalez remain friends ... and the former believes the latter has a bright future in store.
"He's a real explosive dude," Blackmon said. "I feel like he helped me grow as a leader. He's a real fluid athlete and I know he's going to have a great career in the league."
And now, Gonzalez is set to bring his laundry list of traits and "no weakness" skillset to Foxboro.
Follow Patriots Country on Twitter and Facebook
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Patriots? Click Here
More Patriots coverage from Sports Illustrated here.
