Vrabel maintained that the specific details of the discussions should not be made public.
"But I also know that those should remain private.
Like any contract negotiation, you want to make sure that everybody feels like they get something out of it, and I'll leave it at that," said Vrabel.
ESPN front office expert Mike Tannenbaum praised the organization for securing Gonzalez originally and highlighted his value to the defense.
"The Patriots deserve a ton of credit," said Tannenbaum.
Tannenbaum described the defender as a foundational piece for the roster.
"Christian Gonzalez is obviously a great man-to-man corner who has rare length and athleticism.
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He's one of those players you want to build the team around," said Tannenbaum.
The former general manager expressed hope that the defending AFC champions will find a resolution to avoid distractions during camp.
"Given the momentum they created for themselves last year, and the quality of the player, hopefully there's common ground," said Tannenbaum.
Tannenbaum added that early extensions often require compromise from both parties involved.
"It's one of those deals when you go early like this, neither side is going to feel like it's an ideal deal.
Typically those are the best ones -- when both sides feel they like the deal but don't love it.
But it's hard to imagine he won't be there for years to come," said Tannenbaum.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Ty Law recalled his own negotiation experiences with New England, highlighting the inherent injury risks players weigh during practices without long-term security.
