The Patriots are warriors, and the Herald is profiling them in the week leading up to Super Bowl LX. Check back every day as we post the newest profile leading up to the game, and pick up a copy of the paper for a color print:

Boston Herald Warrior Profile Christian Gonzalez

Hometown:

The Colony, Texas

Path to Patriots:

The Patriots selected Gonzalez in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, making him the last first-round pick of the Bill Belichick era. He went 17th overall after a standout junior season at Oregon, where he transferred after two seasons at Colorado. He entered the draft as a projected top-10 pick, but unexpectedly fell to the Patriots, who traded back three spots despite the fact Gonzalez was a consideration for them at 14th overall.

Best game:

Were it not for a couple of early coverage busts, Gonzalez would seemingly have saved his best for last this season in the AFC title game. His fourth-quarter interception helped seal a win for the Patriots, but his overall play did not stack up to his divisional-round playoff performance.

Gonzalez did not allow a single catch to the Chargers in a 16-3 win, where he had two pass breakups. He was targeted four times and blanketed Los Angeles receivers throughout.

Big number:

5.2.

According to Next Gen Stats, Gonzalez has allowed 5.2 yards per target this season, including the playoffs, the lowest average among all defensive backs in the NFL.

Did you know?

Gonzalez’s brother-in-law, ex-NFL backup quarterback David Blough, was recently hired as the Commanders’ new offensive coordinator. Blough is married to his sister, Melissa, a Colombian-American track and field athlete who ran for Colombia in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

He said it:

On if he’s heard from old friends since the Patriots made the Super Bowl:  “A lot. A lot (are) coming out. Some people now say we’re cousins. But I mean, it is what it is.”