One of the few downsides of being a Super Bowl champion is the fact that retaining many of the best role players on the team could be a very difficult task. Defensive tackle Milton Williams may be one casualty of an Eagles team that can't afford to give everyone a shiny new contract.
While the Eagles will probably try to prioritize signing free agent linebacker Zack Baun and right guard Mekhi Becton to keep many of their starters in place, Williams may need to be on the move as Philly tries to remain competitive.
Williams knows how the business of the NFL works by now. While he seems like someone who could be very happy as a role player for this Eagles team, Williams is trying his best to get as much money as possible in what will be his first big open market contract.
Williams said that he wants "a raise" after an impressive fourth season with the Eagles, even wearing Kluch Sports Group hoodies instead of any team issued gear. Williams may have liked playing in Philly, but he knows now is the best chance he has to secure the bag in his pro career.
Milton Williams seems ready to leave Eagles ahead of free agency
Williams never got the shine he deserved this season, as he was overshadowed by mammoth space-eater Jordan Davis and pass rush extraordinare Jalen Carter. Williams, who played 48% of defensive snaps, managed to record 24 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and five sacks this season.
Williams could be a prime candidate for a deal that pays him just a few ticks shy of the higher end of the market. It doesn't take a football genius to see how Williams could be a more impactful playmaker with an expanded role that makes him a no-doubt starter.
The Eagles have already committed a ton of money to their core pieces, and they will need to be judicious with how they spend in the next few years. Carter and Davis look like long-term pieces, and both Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean could be in for record-setting deals if they improve upon their rookie years.
Williams was a solid draft pick who improved every year in Philly, but the Eagles can't keep all 53 guys in the same exact spot. Unless they really back up the Brinks truck, Williams seems like someone who is ready to leave and start a new chapter elsewhere.
