Moving from the Super Bowl-winning Eagles to the Patriots places defensive tackle Milton Williams back in chase mode.
New England, without a postseason berth since 2021, is in pursuit of the Bills, the AFC East champions for five seasons running. Williams knows catching Buffalo starts with slowing quarterback Josh Allen, although he's never faced the reigning Most Valuable Player -- the DT's only missed game of his four-year career came against Allen and Co.
"I ended up missing that game against Josh Allen," Williams said on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast. "So, I haven't got to play him yet. Since I got here just talking with (Christian) Barmore, he was like, 'Yeah, Josh Allen is probably the hardest quarterback I've had to bring down.' Just big, fast, he kind of reminds me of Cam Newton. I compare him to Cam Newton, just being that big, being that mobile, having such a big arm, make any throw. It's going to be a challenge, but I'm up for it. I'm up for it for sure."
Williams and Allen will get acquainted in short order, with two meetings a year scheduled as the Patriots try to reset the divisional order to where it was for New England's two-decade run of dominance not so long ago.
In order to accomplish a turnaround, the Patriots brought in head coach Mike Vrabel, a legacy hire who helped lead the team's defense as a tough-nosed linebacker during the beginning of its dynasty.
New England added several notable defenders to reshape the unit under Vrabel, including cornerback Carlton Davis, linebacker Robert Spillane and pass rusher Harold Landry. The biggest get of them all was Williams, who signed a four-year, $104 million deal after a breakout regular season and three-sack postseason encore cemented him as a star.
But even though the defense failed to deliver last year, as evidenced by its 22nd-place ranking in both points and yards allowed, the Patriots offer plenty of homegrown talent to help ease the transition for Williams and the rest of the new additions.
One teammate, in particular, has caught Williams' eye: Keion White. Like Williams, the 26-year-old defensive end had his best season in 2024, making good on his second-round billing with 56 tackles, five sacks, five passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. He and Williams also share the ability to line up and effectively attack multiple gaps along the line, which should allow the duo to enact a world of chaos in the campaign ahead.
"Keion White, I see a lot of myself in him," Williams said. "Just how he carries himself, how how he goes about his business, how he works. Similar body type. 6-4, 6-5, 280 (pounds), 290. Fast. Strong. Got everything in the toolbox to really line up wherever, having that versatility to play inside, outside. I pride myself on being able to do the same thing. So, I already told him, like, if we end up on the same side when it's time to go rush, it's gonna get nasty. It's gonna get nasty for sure."
There's many months still to go until it's prove-it time, but Williams is effectively putting his future opponents on notice -- that includes Allen and all the other QBs slated to face the new-look Pats.
