With contract negotiations considered ongoing, however, Gonzalez was notably absent from Tuesday's joint practice with the Colts. Why was Christian Gonzalez absent from Patriots practice? Christian Gonzalez contract extension rumorsIn late July, ahead of Patriots camp, team owner Robert Kraft revealed that the team was in talks with Gonzalez to make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. Currently, the NFL's highest-paid cornerback is the Rams' Trent McDuffie, who was given a four-year, $124 million deal in March after he was traded from the Chiefs. With two years remaining on his current contract, Gonzalez is likely to become the next NFL cornerback to make north of $30 million per season.