Success has come at a high cost for the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. One of their key defensive linemen from the Super Bowl season managed to hit the open market and secure a deal to become a major investment for the New England Patriots.
Milton Williams showed a lot of promise in Philadelphia, despite starting in fewer than 20 games over the course of four seasons. With the Patriots, Williams will see a a role increase, as he inked a reported $104 million contract for the next four seasons with the Patriots.
As New England prepares for its run with the new defensive lineman, the ex-Eagle is gaining attention as a “guaranteed riser,” according to NFL analyst Marc Ross.
“It can be risky paying part-time players big-time money like the Patriots did this offseason with Williams,” Ross writes. “He will be tasked with turning around a defense that ranked 22nd in yards and points allowed in 2024. … it’s clear early on that Vrabel is looking for Williams to set the tone in his revamped D-line. He brings the experience to a front that features some young but talented disruptors.”
Since 2021, Williams has played in fewer than 50 percent of the Eagles’ defensive snaps each year. He saw the field for a career-high 501 (48%) during the 2024 NFL season.
In 17 games, Williams registered 24 tackles, with seven of them going for a loss. He landed 10 hits on the quarterback and picked up five sacks during the regular season.
When the stage got even bigger for Milton and the Eagles, the 25-year-old defensive lineman managed to stand out in the brightest of spotlights. He collected two sacks during the playoff run. Both of those sacks came during the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Williams and Josh Sweat were some of the Eagles’ most notable losses on the defensive side of the ball. While the Eagles will miss their former homegrown prospects, the team feels confident in the growth of the others on the frontline, which is headlined by the dominant Jalen Carter.
Meanwhile, the Patriots hope that Williams can double his production by increasing his workload. Although Williams joins a rebuilding Patriots squad, they are led by a defensive-minded head coach, who could help get the best out of the Eagles’ former third-round pick.
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