Milton Williams Silenced Every Critic and the Patriots Want an Encore in 2026

The critics hammered the New England Patriots in the 2025 offseason for the acquisition of Milton Williams.

"Four years and $104 million for a guy who plays less than half the defensive snaps?"

Williams silenced any and all of them, literally from the opener with an immense season at defensive tackle, answering every challenge thrown in front of him.

Immense when it mattered

When the Patriots buckled up for real in the playoffs, Williams was at his best, totaling 68 percent of the postseason snaps with three sacks and a whole slew of pressures.

Williams, now an entrenched leader in the Gillette Stadium home locker-room, hardly sounds like a player who is satisfied.

"We're not out there just playing around. We're really getting some work in, getting the new guys acclimated, learning some new things, but pushing each other the same way (as last year)," said Williams during spring practices with the team.

"We were on the doorstep last year. I don't feel we really needed to change up much. Obviously, we had a lot of younger players, just getting that experience and learning and growing from the mistakes we made last year. I feel like everybody can just continue to get better, and if we all get better, maybe we will make that one or two plays (in the Super Bowl) that hurt us."

Deep and talented bunch

Williams heads up what should be a pretty deep interior defensive line group that also features a healthy Christian Barmore. Jeremiah Pharms, Josh Farmer, Cory Durden and Eric Gregory – all of whom flashed in reserve moments a year ago -- add depth and youth to the group.

After a winning Super Bowl trip with the Eagles and last year's disappointment vs. Seattle, Williams understands their importance of the unit.

"This team and this defense are only going to go as far as we can take them," Williams said. "If we control the line of scrimmage up front, it will help this team in a lot of ways."

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This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 2:34 PM.