Patriots DL Milton Williams aims to send strong message to teammates ahead of 2025 NFL season

Milton Williams arrived at the New England Patriots during the latest NFL offseason with a clear goal: to establish himself as one of the new pillars of Mike Vrabel’s defense. The former Super Bowl champion with the Eagles knows exactly what’s expected of him, which is why he’s looking to set a strong tone for his new teammates.

After signing a lucrative four-year, $104 million deal with the Foxborough franchise, it’s clear that his primary role will be to strengthen one of the key weaknesses the Patriots had last season.

Nevertheless, through hard work and constant sacrifice, Williams stated to the press that this will be his first message, not only to the fans but also to his teammates, from whom he expects a similar level of effort.

“I’m trying to lead by example. Hopefully the guys will see me working and they’ll want to follow suit. Trying to bring everyone along to what we’re trying to build here,” Williams stated, via Mike Reiss of ESPN.

Milton Williams #93 of the Philadelphia Eagles pressures Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter during the NFC Wild Card Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Vrabel’s vision for Williams

Williams was the target, and no one else. This is something new head coach Mike Vrabel knows well, and shortly after they began working together, he revealed to the former Eagles player everything he expects from him during this phase of preparation for the Patriots.

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“He wants me to go fast and empty the tank every rep,” Williams stated, via Conor Ryan of Boston.com. “I like that. I don’t think I’m bigger than the next person. I don’t mind him calling me out. Calling me out is going to help the other guys. We have no excuses.”

The defensive lineman is the big bet for a coach whose top priority is to strengthen this department with a significant upgrade. Williams could be that player, which is why many are keeping a close eye on what he can deliver moving forward.

Will this be the year for the Patriots in the AFC East?

Drake Maye will once again take the helm as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots, aiming to build on his experience and lead the offense into a competitive 2025 season. With the addition of Milton Williams to reinforce the defensive line, alongside newly drafted Will Campbell, the Patriots are looking to make significant improvements on that side of the ball.

Head coach Mike Vrabel makes his debut in Foxborough, bringing a fresh energy to the team as they prepare to battle it out with the dominant Buffalo Bills in the AFC East. With key reinforcements and Vrabel’s leadership, the Patriots will be focused on challenging for the division title this year.