Milton Williams Was a $104 Million Gamble. One Injury-Free Season Changed Everything.

The New England Patriots have a defensive lineman who looked worth every penny last season. Provided he can stay on the field.

Milton Williams landed at No. 9 on ESPN’s defensive tackle rankings for 2026, a significant jump for a guy who didn’t even make the list the previous year. The rankings came from polling over 70 NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, so the industry is paying attention.

Williams signed a four-year, $104 million deal in March 2025 after leaving Philadelphia. At the time, the contract raised eyebrows. He was a rotational lineman for the Eagles, not a full-time starter. The Patriots were betting on upside.

It worked. Last season, Williams ranked third among all interior linemen in pressure rate at 9.6%. He posted eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 12 games, missing time with a high ankle sprain. His advanced numbers were even better: he led every qualified Patriots defensive lineman in both pass rush win rate and run stop win rate.

“New England has an anchor up front, and the defense wasn’t the same without him,” one NFL personnel evaluator told ESPN. “Explosive, strong and great effort player. And you can move him all around the defensive front and he can be effective.”

The Patriots landed Williams after he turned down Carolina in free agency. That decision looks smarter by the day. His raw stat line — 29 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one pass defensed — doesn’t tell the full story. But the analytics guys love him, and so do the coaches who game-plan around him.

Williams’ Health Is the Only Question

If he can play a full 17-game schedule, the Patriots’ defense could be a problem for the rest of the AFC. They already have pieces around him, but Williams is the kind of disruptive interior presence who makes everyone else better. His ability to line up anywhere on the line and still win reps gives New England flexibility that most teams don’t have.

The Patriots got blown out in the Super Bowl last season, and that loss is still fresh. But with Williams healthy, the path back to the big game looks more realistic. He’s not a flashy stat-sheet guy, but he’s the kind of player who shows up when you actually watch the tape.

New England’s regular season kicks off later this fall. Expect Williams to be a central figure in whatever the Patriots do defensively.