Ex-Patriots Nemesis Suggests Nickname For Christian Gonzalez

Drake Maye isn’t the only young Patriots player who inspires optimism about New England’s future.

Christian Gonzalez also appears to be one of the franchise’s most important building blocks as it ushers in a new era. Gonzalez’s rookie season was off to a great start before it was cut short due to injury, but the talented cornerback picked up where he left off as an NFL sophomore. The 2023 first-round pick has become one of the Patriots’ most reliable defenders, and he’s typically matched up with the opposition’s best receiver.

Mark Sanchez, who was in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday to call New England’s Week 11 game against the Los Angeles Rams for FOX, certainly has been impressed by Gonzalez. So much so that he was inclined to suggest a new nickname for the Oregon product.

“Might have to start calling him Walpole,” Sanchez said, as transcribed by The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin. “He locks up those receivers.”

Gonzalez drawing praise from former NFL players has become a regular occurrence. Ty Law, arguably the Patriots’ all-time best cornerback who entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019, recently declared the 22-year-old was “up next.”

Last year’s 17th overall pick will have a few more challenging matchups this season that could strengthen Law’s take. New England, in Week 12, will have to deal with the Miami Dolphins’ talented receiving corps, and Gonzalez could go one-on-one with Marvin Harrison Jr. in Week 15.