The first day of the NFL’s negotiating window was a busy one for the New England Patriots. Along the defensive line, the Patriots started off by trading Davon Godchaux before making their biggest splash of the day: signing defensive lineman Milton Williams, who originally looked destined to sign in Carolina.
Coming off a Super Bowl Championship in Philadelphia, New England paid Williams a hefty amount to make a big impact on their new-look defense.
With that all said, let’s take a closer look at Williams and what he may bring to the table in New England.
Hard facts
Name: Milton Williams
Position: Defensive tackle/Interior defensive line
Opening day age: 26 (04/06/1999)
Size: 6-foot-3, 290 pounds
Contract status: 4 years, $104 million, $63 million guaranteed
Experience
NFL teams: Philadelphia Eagles (2021-24), New England Patriots (2025-)
Following a junior year breakout at Louisiana Tech, Williams declared for the 2021 NFL Draft where the Eagles selected him with pick No. 73 in the third-round. Williams went on to appear in all 17 games for Philadelphia that season as a depth piece playing 41 percent of their defensive snaps behind veterans Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave.
Assuming a similar role the following season, Williams saw his production increase as he posted 4.0 sacks while becoming an efficient run defender along the interior. He was part of an Eagles defense that reached Super Bowl LVII which saw them fall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Parlaying his increased production into a larger role in 2023, Williams started 10 games while playing 46 percent of Philly’s defensive snaps. His work on the ground remained strong as he set a career-high with 26 run stops but while he only recorded 0.5 sacks, Williams’ pressures (25), QB hits (9), and hurries (14) all marked personal bests.
2024 review
Stats: 17 games (7 starts), 4 playoff games | 501 defensive snaps (48%) + 152 playoff snaps, 62 special teams snaps (14%) | 31 total tackles, 17 run stops | 54 quarterback pressures (7.0 sacks, 7 hits, 39 hurries), 3 batted passes
Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Williams started off the season relatively slow — like the rest of the Eagles defense — in his usual role. Following a Week 5 bye, Williams’ game took off as he became a key cog in Philadelphia’s No. 1 ranked defense while playing a career-high 48 percent of their defensive snap.
While his play against the run took a step back, Williams established himself as one of the best interior rushers in football. He posted a career-high 40 pressures during the regular season — highlighted by a disruptive nine pressure game against the Ravens in Week 13 — while his 17.7 percent pass rush win rate ranked fourth among all qualified defensive tackles.
As the calendar flipped to the playoffs, Williams play only got stronger along the Eagles front. He posted four pressures in both a Wild Card and Conference Championship victory as Philadelphia clinched their spot in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles front went on to pave the way to a victory as Williams recorded four more pressures and two sacks (one a strip sack of Patrick Mahomes) on just 25 snaps.
Impending free agent Milton Williams posted a career-high 40 pressures in the regular season while his 17.7% pass rush win rate ranked fourth among qualified interior defenders.
Had a monster postseason (14 pressures) for the Super Bowl champs⬇️ pic.twitter.com/KNBVbQ7Euu
— Brian Hines (@iambrianhines) March 3, 2025
Patriots preview
What will be his role? Following a season in which the Patriots ranked last in the league, they needed help on their defensive line. Williams will immediately fit into Terrell Williams’ defense as they transition to more aggressive four-down fronts — primarily from a 3T or 4i alignment. After not playing over 50 percent of the Eagles defensive snaps in a season, Williams should be expected to see an uptick in snaps (especially if Christian Barmore is sidelined).
What is his growth potential? While it’s fair to question how effective Williams will be away from Jalen Carter and a talented defensive line, the soon-to-be 26-year-old has seen his game level up every year as a pro. Now working with Terrell Williams and Vrabel, Williams will look to pair his pass rushing ability with his former success on the ground to become one of the top well-rounded defensive tackles in football.
Does he have positional versatility? Williams does his best work from the three-technique where he can be penetrating presence. However, he’s also held up well in the run game from 4i or 5T alignments showing his versatility up front. He’s also been a staple on field goal block units for the Eagles over the last two years, but New England may find him too valuable for such duties after signing a four-year deal.
What does it mean for New England’s salary cap? The full structure of Williams’ contract has yet to become available, but the four-year, $104 million deal was the biggest among any signed by the Patriots on Monday. In fact, Williams is now the highest paid player in franchise history.
What does it mean for New England’s draft outlook? This question will be better answered when there is a clearer update on Christian Barmore’s status (which should come early in April as players return to the facility). If New England believes Barmore is ready to go, the combination of him and Williams gives the Patriots one of the best in the league. If not, New England could look for another option to add next to their free agent addition. Either way, New England should look draft at the spot in an extremely strong defensive line draft class.
How safe is his roster spot? Barring something unforeseen happening, the highest-paid player in franchise history is locked onto the roster.
One-sentence verdict: New England made a hefty financial investment, but Williams gives them a potential game-changing defensive lineman — with Super Bowl-winning experience — to seriously upgrade the unit.
