Patriots owner Robert Kraft chats with Patriots quarterback Drake Maye after the first practice of training camp was finished Saturday at the fields behind Gillette Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Robert Kraft didn’t need much prompting on Saturday at the opening of New England Patriots training camp.

“We love Christian Gonzalez,” the Patriots owner said. “We love him as a player, as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest paid player to ever play that position (cornerback) in the NFL, and coincidentally it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.

“So we’re glad we drafted him, he’s developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”

That was certainly a bombshell dropped right away, and perhaps a reason why Gonzalez came out and ran toward and down the length of the packed bleachers at the practice fields out behind Gillette Stadium throwing footballs into crowd. It was surprising site and he certainly wasn’t keeping what was expected to be a low profile. And he also was right on newly acqiuired high profile receiver A.J. Brown on one of the first plays of practice.

Kraft provided no details – guaranteed money, annual average value, etc. Rams corner Trent McDuffie has a four-year deal with $100 million guaranteed and an annual average of $31 million guaranteed as the current standard. But both Gonzalez and Seahawks corner Devon Witherspoon are expected to top the market.

Something has definitely changed over the last couple of months. Gonzalez skipped voluntary workouts, but was with the team during mandatory minicamp.

He certainly continues to draw raves from his teammates, especially how he went right at it yesterday.

“I think that shows his main focus, and that’s football,” Patriots QB Drake Maye said. “He’s the best corner in the league in my opinion. He’s, not the big rah-rah guy. He does it his own way, but he does it at the highest level. So I’m glad to be his teammate.

“We’re around the same age, and I tell him, “Will [Campbell], that he’s my rook because I was a first-round pick and Will’s the next. But Gonzo’s someone I look up to, even at the same age. I look up to how he does things, how he handles himself and his swagger he has in his own way. I think it’s great to see him out here playing around.

“And I think you saw it in the locker room before. Everybody was wondering, “what’s Gonzo going to do?” And he’s coming out here, and first play, he’s guarding A.J. in man coverage. So, that’s the Patriots.”

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez gets ready for a drill during the first day of training camp in Foxborough, Mass. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

JACAS REPORTEDLY SIGNS

Mike Vrabel was asked Saturday morning if there was anything knew with the Patriots unsigned second round pick Gabe Jacas, the edge rusher from Illinois, and said no. Well, less than an hour later, there was, as Jacas reportedly signed his rookie deal, a four-year, $8.6 million deal. The hanguup, besides a possible health issue, apparently was the guaranteed money.

Now it’s just a matter of when he arrives, which likely will be today.

“I do not think that Gabe is local,” Vrabel said yesterday before that news broke. “I don’t think he’s in New England.”

MAYE WORKING WITH WILSON

Maye will be working with a new center in Jared Wilson, who played some at left guard last year, creating a whole rookie left side of the line. The Patriots dealt last year’s starter, veteran Garrett Bradbury, to the Chicago Bears with the idea of moving Wilson into the position he played in college.

“It’s good, glad to be back with everybody,” Wilson said. “Of course, me and Drake, our connection is very important. … Reps is everything. You can say we trust each other, but (without reps) you’re not confident in the connection we need to have.”

“Jared, he’s natural there,” Maye said. “I think Garrett [Bradbury], you get to know a center for a year, and you get to know his little things, how he likes things, if he’s going left and I’m going right, how it works, little under center things and how he understands mic points.

“But Jared, he’s smart. He’s real smart. I wanted him to play with me in college. He went to the SEC. I don’t blame him, but, I think he’s done a great job of understanding what comes with playing center. You got to be loud. You got to be, “me and you, it’s our show.” So, I think he’s done a great job. Just getting used to little things under center, how he likes to do silent cadence and stuff like that. But he’s got a great feel for the cadence. And he saw Garrett do it last year, which is a great look for him.”

LANDRY IS MISSED

Vrabel wouldn’t predict when Patriots linebacker Harold Landry, on the PUP list with his ongoing knee woes, would be ready. He’s being slowly nurtured so he’s ready for the season, it seems.

“I’m very confident with our return�’to�’play,” Vrabel said. “Where Harold is at the start of the season–I wouldn’t be able to tell you right now. He won’t be practicing, but he’ll be working, and hopefully we’ll get him back.”

The Patriots are back at it today, 10:15 a.m.to 12 p.m., open to the public.