Christian Gonzalez headed into the NFL Combine already possessing the potential to become a first-round draft pick in April. After the on-field workouts for defensive backs, Gonzalez should be squarely in the mix to become the first cornerback selected.

According to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Gonzalez generated a 92 overall draft score with marks of 85 at production and 88 at athleticism. That draft score leads all players in Gonzalez’s position group after he elite thresholds with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and a 41.5″ vertical jump.

Gonzalez recently landed at No. 13 overall on Daniel Jeremiah’s latest top 50 Big Board of 2023 NFL Draft prospects for NFL.com. It’s not hard to see why after Friday’s combine outing.

Draft outlook for Gonzalez

Prior to the combine, Gonzalez stood as a near consensus first-round pick in April’s draft after posting 50 tackles, 4 interceptions and 7 pass breakups for Oregon during the 2022 season. After adding his measurables and elite testing numbers in Indianapolis, his stock will only climb even higher moving forward.

Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon and Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. are other cornerbacks in the mix to become the top pick at the position, but Gonzalez gave teams plenty to think about on Friday.