He was handed a contract worth $104 million in 2025 NFL free agency to change the narrative for the New England Patriots’ defense, but former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams is finding the adjustment tough at training camp.
Williams explained to reporters at practice on Wednesday, July 30, “how he’s adjusting to the get-off that’s expected from the #Patriots attacking front, noting how Vic Fangio’s system focused more on reading blocking schemes,” per Taylor Kyles of Patriots on CLNS Media.
The reference to legendary defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is telling because it speaks to the differences the Patriots are expected to employ on defense this year. Fangio’s preference for his D-linemen to play read-and-react football at the line of scrimmage is something similar to what ex-Pats head coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo favored in the trenches.
They wanted linemen able to control two gaps and absorb double teams. A new staff fronted by head coach Mike Vrabel and his defensive coordinator Terrell Williams are seeking a different approach, one based on attacking single gaps and getting upfield quickly.
Williams’ presence and performances will be key to the success of this new plan.
Milton Williams Must Master Vital Role for Patriots
Vrabel needs Williams to master the rapid takeoff needed to make a more active four-man front work. Fortunately, it’s what Williams did consistently for the Eagles last season, never more so than during the 40-22 demolition of the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Williams notched a pair of sacks, including this one when he stripped the ball from Patrick Mahomes.
A prolific postseason added a lot of dollars to Williams’ value on the veteran market, and the Patriots are counting on him being a consistent pass-rushing force through the interior. It’s a gamble based on the 26-year-old’s otherwise generally modest production, evidenced by never registering more than five sacks in a single season since entering the league as a third-round pick in the 2021 draft.
Williams must also overcome the challenges he’s already facing in a new scheme, along with not being surrounded by the same elite talent he played behind in Philadelphia.
Patriots Need Milton Williams to Be a Leader
He no longer has the luxury of being the change of pace in relief of dominant linchpins Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. They made Williams’ job easier, just like Carter he did here by eating and spitting out a double team to leave his fellow D-tackle a clear path to sack Los Angeles Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford, per “Eagles Pin-Pull” host Shane Haff.
Now Williams is expected to be the force who occupies so much of an offensive line’s attention he allows others to feast. That’s rare air, usually only breathed by the most dynamic interior defensive linemen in the NFL.
Williams doesn’t belong in that bracket just yet, but a partnership with returning Christian Barmore could help elevate his status. The Patriots have interesting new plans for Barmore, who has shown hints of being able to take over games, something he can hopefully do in tandem with Williams.
That possibility is already exciting backup nose tackle Khyiris Tonga. He said “to come in and be next to Milton and Barmore makes my job so much easier,” the Patriots mammoth defensive tackle said following the Patriots second padded practice Tuesday. (Opposing teams) got to pick their choice between Barmore and Milton (to double team) and I’m good with that, per MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian.
Tonga also believes the benefit of a Williams and Barmore double act is “not just for the line. That’s for the backers behind us, the DBs behind us. (Opposing teams) got to pick their poison between those two. So we feed off that. That means we got 1-on-1 with our opportunities, so it’s good.”
It’s a fine theory, but everything hinges on Williams living up to his gaudy contract. Easier said than done when the Patriots don’t have Carter or Davis and lack a truly explosive edge-rusher.
The Pats need to be proved right that their more attack-based system will suit Williams’ natural skills and take his numbers up a level or two.
