Patriots’ New Defensive Stud Embraces ‘Physicality’ Of Mike Vrabel’s System

With a great contract comes great expectations. No one knows that better than Milton Williams.

The New England Patriots signed Williams in March to a four-year, $104 million contract, plucking him from the Eagles following their victory in Super Bowl LIX.

Despite playing less than 50% of the snaps during his four years in Philadelphia, Williams comes to Foxboro knowing the Patriots are expecting more from the 2021 third-round pick.

The 26-year-old Williams, for his part, is embracing “(Mike) Vrabel’s approach of being hardest on the team’s best players,” ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss reported after last week’s mandatory minicamp.

“I’m ready to use some of this physicality. When training camp comes around, I’ll be ready, for sure,” Williams said, per Reiss, who reported the defensive lineman will spend the time before training camp working out in Texas.

Throughout the spring, Williams worked with new teammate Christian Barmore, giving the Patriots what Reiss called “A potential potent 1-2 defensive tackle combination.”

Barmore, 25, played in just four games last season while dealing with blood clots.

“A lot of fire in my heart. After that situation, people forget who I am,” Barmore said, according to Reiss.

In 2023, Barmore played all 17 games and recorded a career-high 8 1/2 sacks.

Last year, Williams registered a career-best five sacks and picked up another two in the Eagles’ 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

Williams and the Eagles will return to Gillette Stadium on July 22 when they report for training camp, with the first practice scheduled for the following day.