The New England Patriots made a massive gamble in 2025 free agency, and it’s already raising eyebrows across the league.
Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams signed a jaw-dropping four-year, $104 million deal with the Patriots this offseason — a contract that NFL analyst Lou Scataglia has now labeled as one of the worst in the entire league heading into the new season.
“This honestly feels like one of those instances where a team spent a ton of money just because they had a ton to spend.” — Lou Scataglia, NFL Spin Zone
From Rotational Piece to Richest Paydays
To be clear, Williams isn’t a bad player. He showed serious flashes of potential in Philadelphia, especially during the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl run. In the regular season, he posted:
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5 sacks
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24 total tackles
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7 tackles for loss
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10 QB hits
Solid numbers — but not exactly $26 million-per-year production.
Prior to that breakout season, Williams had never played more than 600 defensive snaps in any year. He was largely a rotational interior lineman, surrounded by superstars like Jalen Carter, Haason Reddick, and an elite back seven that allowed him to shine in specific matchups.
In short, the context around his breakout can’t be ignored — and some are questioning whether his performance was a product of his environment more than his individual dominance.
Patriots Paid Like He’s a Superstar
So what led to the massive overpay? According to reports, the Carolina Panthers and Patriots were engaged in a bidding war, and New England — still trying to reestablish its identity under Mike Vrabel after the Jerod Mayo coaching debacle — wanted to make a splash.
But in doing so, they may have paid elite money for a player who’s never been elite.
Scataglia didn’t mince words:
“This is not an accurate representation of the type of production to expect from Milton Williams.”
That sentiment is echoed by many across the league. While Williams is likely to be a solid starter, no one sees him as a game-wrecker in the mold of Jeffery Simmons, Chris Jones, or even his former teammate Jalen Carter.
Did the Eagles See It Coming?
Credit goes to the Eagles front office for reading the situation perfectly. Rather than overpay a role player, Philly let Williams play out the final year of his rookie deal, betting that a breakout season would price him out of their plans.
They were right.
It’s clear that much of Williams’ 2024 success came from playing on what was arguably the best defense in football. Between Carter wreaking havoc up front and elite coverage on the back end, quarterbacks were often left stranded — and Williams capitalized.
Now, he’ll be expected to anchor a Patriots defensive line without those same supporting cast members — and with a $104 million target on his back.
Final Take: Splash or Setback?
Williams’ deal ranks him among the highest-paid defensive tackles in the NFL, yet his résumé doesn’t reflect that status. While he may bring stability to the Patriots’ front, expecting him to singlehandedly transform their defense is unrealistic.
The Patriots needed to make a move — but did they make the right one? Time will tell, but early reviews aren’t promising. If Williams doesn’t take a massive leap, this contract could go down as one of the biggest overpays of the decade.
