The New England Patriots made a massive move by adding a force to their defensive line. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots and Milton Williams have agreed to a four-year, $104 million deal, which includes $63 million guaranteed.
Williams, 26, is a young, premier player and was one of the best, if not the best, defenders available in free agency. The Patriots’ pass rush was lackluster last season, and with the possibility of having Christian Barmore out for an extended period of time due to blood clots, this signing is even more crucial.
Williams spent his first four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was a key contributor to their Super Bowl LIX victory. Over his career, he has accumulated 132 tackles and 11.5 sacks across 67 games, including 19 starts. In the 2024 season, Williams recorded 31 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries, earning a pass-rush grade of 90.4 from Pro Football Focus.
Earlier today, the Carolina Panthers were rumored to be close to finalizing a deal with Williams, but instead, he chose to reunite with head coach Mike Vrabel.
The Patriots have spent significantly on the defensive side of the ball. They’ve signed cornerback Carlton Davis to a three-year, $60 million contract, linebacker Robert Spillane to a three-year, $37.5 million deal, and edge defender Harold Landry to a three-year, $43.5 million contract.
Williams was a huge part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning team, and the Patriots have justly rewarded him with a record-setting contract. This deal marks the largest contract ever given out by the Patriots, effectively making Williams the third-highest-paid interior defender in the NFL.
The new league year officially begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
