The Panthers looked to be the frontrunners to secure Milton Williams, but that will no longer be the cards. The Patriots are adding Williams instead, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.
Williams will head to Foxborough on a monster deal that averages $26MM per season over four years. After the Cowboys kept Osa Odighizuwa off the market, Williams — PFR’s No. 3 overall free agent — will benefit from being allowed to speak with multiple suitors.
Carolina was deep in talks with Williams, who will parlay a big contract year into a seismic second contract. The Panthers were close to a deal, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Patriots then upped their price — on a deal that includes $63MM guaranteed — to end the derby. After Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins reset the D-tackle market last year, Williams will benefit. Assuming the $63MM represents Williams’ guarantee total (as opposed to the amount fully locked in at signing), that still ranks sixth among DTs.
The Eagles had re-signed Zack Baun, but the Super Bowl champions had left Williams, Josh Sweat and Mekhi Becton unattached as the legal tampering period began today. Williams represents the first defection, and Sweat has since committed to the Cardinals, rejoining Jonathan Gannon.
Williams’ contract year produced career-high numbers in sacks (five) and QB hits (10). Used as a part-time starter, the Louisiana Tech product totaled 18 pressures as well, ranking sixth in DT pass rush win rate. Pro Football Focus ranked the former third-round pick as the No. 1 interior pass rusher last season, and the Patriots will buy in while the Eagles will predictably build their DT future around Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis.
The Patriots extended Christian Barmore last year but saw him miss most of the season due to blood clots. Barmore returned late in the year and will now pair with Williams to round out a pricey D-tackle duo. Williams joins Harold Landry, Carlton Davis and Robert Spillane as additions aimed at restoring the Patriots to an upper-crust defense. After two-plus decades carrying such chops, New England plummeted to 22nd in yards and points allowed despite Christian Gonzalez‘s All-Pro ascent.
Coming into free agency with the most cap space in the NFL, the Patriots are delivering on Mike Vrabel’s push to both spend in free agency and bolster their lines. Williams will be the biggest bet any team makes on the D-line during this free agency period, and the Pats will expect him to build on a breakout season.
Williams showed flashes before, having supplied a career-high nine tackles for loss during the Eagles’ 2022 NFC championship season. Although his Super Bowl LIX sack-strip-recovery sequence introduced the former third-round pick to the casual fans — ones that were still watching by that point — Williams will be out to prove he is not a one-year wonder.
Lets gooooooooo
Harold Landry
Carlton Davis
Milton Williams
Damn New England just upgraded their defense in a span of 20 hours.
Good signing, bit of an overpay but that’s life for NFL teams these days.
Bad team, bad location means overpaying.
Yeah that’s the case for most NFL teams that are terrible. Have to overpay to be respectable again lol.
Bad location?
Ever been to Foxboro? Bad location.
I’ve been to Foxborough. It’s not a bad location at all.
Best of luck Milton. Eagles fans appreciate you. Thank you sir
Love Milt. But $26 million is STEEP.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Williams is a very good player, and I know both the cap and interior line market have gone up, while the Pats have crazy money, but good lord that’s a hefty contract for a guy who just set his career high playing 501 snaps.
Agreed, but I’m happy the Pats are shooting their shot.
As a Bills fan, this was a good mov by the Pats because I wanted the Bills to sign him
Anyone that thinks they are going to pick Mason Graham at #4… need to rethink their Mock Draft.
Why? I hope they get Carter, but think he’ll be gone already. I think they’ll take Hunter or trade back a few spots if Hunter’s not available.
I agree. they will trade down and take Will Campbell. LT was the only spot free agency lacked so they will either wait another year or draft Campbell.
I’m just glad he isn’t going to the Cowboys.
I definitely expected him to sign with New England so I was surprised when the news came out that he was finalizing a contract with Carolina.
This makes a lot more sense.
Milton a very good player, but some of his success was because Jalen Carter is double-teamed almost every play leaving him with a single blocker on him. I don’t see him replicating his impact moving forward.