The New England Patriots have reportedly signed star defensive tackle Milton Williams despite earlier reports that he was close to signing with the Carolina Panthers. Williams, a reigning Super Bowl champion, spent his entire career to date with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Splash: The Patriots are taking the biggest defender off the market, as Eagles DT Milton Williams lands in New England, per me and Mike Garafolo.
Williams gets a $26M per year.
— Ian Rapoport (@rapsheet1.bsky.social) March 10, 2025 at 2:10 PM
REPORT: Patriots Steal Free Agent Milton Williams From Panthers
Milton Williams enters free agency on the heels of what could be his best season. Appearing in all 17 games while making seven starts on Phialdelphia’s loaded defensive line, the defensive tackle finished the season with five sacks, 24 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, 10 quarterback hits, and a 76.5 PFF grade, the 14th-best mark out of 118 eligible players. With his help, the Philadelphia Eagles won their second Super Bowl in the last eight seasons, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs by the lopsided score of 40-22.
Williams originally entered the league as a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Louisiana Tech product rotated along the defensive line during his first year in the league. Appearing in 17 games while making two starts, the rookie finished his inaugural campaign with two sacks, 30 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, six quarterback hits, and a 49.6 PFF grade. The Eagles made the playoffs but ultimately lost to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Following his relatively slow rookie season, Milton Williams made a massive leap in the second year of his contract. Appearing in 17 games, the defensive tackle recorded four sacks, 36 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, six quarterback hits, and a 72.2 PFF grade, the 28th-best out of 127 eligible players. With his help, the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl but lost to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Williams returned to the starting lineup in 2023, and while he had the fewest sacks of his career, he recorded a career-best 42 tackles and seven quarterback hits. Before signing with the Patriots, Milton Williams has played in 67 games while making 19 starts. While on the field, the Louisiana Tech product recorded 11.5 sacks, 132 tackles, 25 tackles-for-loss, and 29 quarterback hits.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images
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