Christian Gonzalez didn’t have the best training camp. Coming off a season-ending injury his rookie season, it looked like it might be best to pump the brakes on all of the Gonzalez hype.

With the start of the season, it was hard to know if the first-round pick would be as good as he looked the first three games he played before going down last year, or if he’d continue to evolve into being a legitimate shutdown corner.

His performance Sunday against Cardinals rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. cemented the answer. It’s been obvious pretty much all season.

Gonzalez is that guy. He’s an eraser. He’s well on his way to joining Stephon Gilmore, Darrelle Revis, Aqib Talib and Ty Law in the Patriots elite cornerback club.

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The 30-17 loss to the Cardinals could have been worse if not for Gonzalez stopping two potential touchdown catches from Harrison. In all, the second-year corner broke up three passes, allowing just a single catch. And that came on a play where he got picked by another Arizona player.

While the Patriots top corner grades out well statistically, one of the best ways to understand just how good Gonzalez has played isn’t totally based on statistics or awards.

Former Patriot Devin McCourty, appearing on the latest “Eye on Foxborough” podcast, provided details. The three-time Super Bowl winner relayed something former Patriot corner Leigh Bodden told him when McCourty first arrived in Foxboro.

While people talk about Pro Bowls and All-Pros, Bodden told McCourty the best gauge comes from listening to what opponents say about you.

That’s been McCourty’s biggest tip-off when it comes to Gonzalez.

“Almost every week, you turn on something, if a guy just played against Gonzalez, or a receiver is on a podcast,” said McCourty, “and they’re mentioning this guy’s name because of how he’s playing.”

Gonzalez has had an All-Star cast of boosters this year. Among those are Philadelphia receiver A.J. Brown, Miami wideout Tyreek Hill, and Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Hill took to social media after both matchups against Gonzalez this season, and praised the Patriots corner.

The Dolphins star receiver wrote that Gonzalez was easily going to be a “top 3″ corner in the league. That came after Gonzalez recorded two pass breakups and an interception while limiting Hill to just two receptions for 34 yards on five targets during their one-on-one encounters.

Brown praised him after he went toe-to-toe with Gonzalez in a joint practice session prior to the season between the Eagles and Patriots.

“I had picked him coming out two years ago as the best defensive back in the (2023) draft. He’s a great player,” Brown said. “He gave me good work today.”

Rodgers called him an “elite player” and “super, super talented.”

So even though Gonzalez hasn’t made a dent in the Pro Bowl voting, he has received something that might be more meaningful – respect from the opposition.

McCourty said Gonzalez’ demeanor reminds him of Gilmore and Revis.

“What I love about him, it’s very similar to Revis and Gilmore because when you’re in the locker room, they don’t say a word, you never hear anything from them,” McCourty said “But when you turn on the film on Sunday, they have this edge about them.”

The best corners want the best matchups. They demand marking the opposing team’s best receiver. Gonzalez might not dictate to the coaching staff who he wants every week – as evidenced by not drawing either Puka Nakua or Cooper Kupp when the Rams were in town – but it’s known.

Said McCourty: “Gonzalez has that makeup of, ‘I want every matchup.’ I want to be the guy they’re throwing the ball on.”’

Like many of the great Patriots corners before him, Gonzalez has the versatility to play anywhere. He’s effective on the left or right boundary, and he can also play in the slot.

“If I was a defensive coordinator, or a DB coach, I want a guy like that to build around in the secondary,” McCourty said. “We used to use Revis sometimes in the slot … It’s so key and great for your defense when you have a guy, skillfully, who can do it, but you also need the guys around him to be able to adjust.”

His play all season has been one of the bright spots on a disappointing defense. The Patriots have their shutdown corner. But like the offense with Drake Maye, it’s now a matter of how the front office goes about surrounding their two stars going forward.