The Patriots were far from the only suitor for Williams, with multiple teams lining up to give the D-lineman a significant pay day given his age, production (five sacks, 10 QB hits, seven tackles for loss in 2024), and stellar play during the 2024 playoffs.

When the Patriots came up with an ‘aggressive’ plan for free agency, they set their sights on Milton Williams. That’s why Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf couldn’t let the young defensive tackle escape their grasp – even if cost over $100 million.

As the NFL's legal tampering window opened, the New England Patriots closed in on disruption. A four-year, $104 million deal with free agent Milton WIlliams followed.