FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 27: Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Getty
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 28: Christian Gonzalez #0 of the New England Patriots warms up against the Carolina Panthers before the game at Gillette Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images) Getty
The New England Patriots have a familiar type of cornerback in Christian Gonzalez , at least in the eyes of one former team captain.
David Andrews shared a locker room with Stephon Gilmore in New England for four seasons, watching Gilmore develop into the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year and one of the league's most difficult cornerbacks to throw against.
Now retired, Andrews sees a similar presence in Gonzalez.
"I laugh because I see so much of Stephon Gilmore in Christian Gonzalez," Andrews said during an appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub on Aug. 7. "Both these quiet, unassuming guys that just go out there and it's like, 'Alright, that half of the field is done.'"
It's lofty but sensible company for Gonzalez.
Gilmore retired in April after a 13-year career that included five Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro nods and the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year award. His best football came with the Patriots, where he also won Super Bowl LIII.
GettyFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 27: Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The comparison reflects their typical emotional state, in addition to expertise at cornerback.
Gilmore rarely had to be the loudest player in the Patriots' locker room to establish his value.
His play did that for him, particularly during a 2019 season in which he tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions and returned two for touchdowns.
Andrews sees the same personality in Gonzalez.
New England has already made it clear how highly it views the 24-year-old.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in July that the organization made Gonzalez an offer that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history and give him the largest contract in franchise history.
The production has helped Gonzalez get into that conversation.
He recorded 68 tackles and 10 passes defensed in 14 regular-season games in 2025. Through three seasons, he has 24 passes defensed and three interceptions.
His training camp has displayed more evidence of why the Patriots are prepared to make that kind of monetary jump.
Gonzalez has spent portions of camp matched up against A.J. Brown , one of the more physical receivers in football.
During an Aug. 6 practice, Gonzalez broke up a pass intended for Brown near the goal line before the two exchanged words afterward .
The quiet demeanor has not kept Gonzalez from embracing a more heated matchup with Brown.
GettyFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 28: Christian Gonzalez #0 of the New England Patriots warms up against the Carolina Panthers before the game at Gillette Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images)
Andrews also connected Gonzalez's presence to the development of Drake Maye .
Having a cornerback capable of making one side of the field difficult to attack creates a problem for the Patriots offense every day in practice.
Andrews believes that problem can become an advantage once the regular season arrives.
"That's great for Drake Maye ," Andrews said after describing Gonzalez's ability to close off half the field.
Maye will have to deal with elite cornerbacks throughout the season, and New England can give him a version of that challenge without leaving its own practice facility.
That dynamic also mirrors part of what made Gilmore so valuable during his Patriots tenure.
The defense could trust him with tough assignments while allocating help elsewhere, providing the rest of the unit with more freedom.
Gonzalez is still early in his career, and matching Gilmore's accomplishments would require more high-level production.
Regardless, Andrews is uniquely positioned to make the comparison.
He started at center throughout Gilmore's peak in New England and watched what an elite corner could do to an offense from the opposite sideline at practice.
Like HEAVY's content? Be sure to follow us .
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Patriots' David Andrews Sees 'So Much' of 2-Time All-Pro in Christian Gonzalez appeared first on HEAVY .
