Milton Williams Not Worried About Pressure Of $104 Million Contract

The New England Patriots shelled out quite a bit of money in free agency this offseason, with the majority of it being used on the defensive side of the ball. Easily the biggest deal they handed out went to defensive tackle Milton Williams, who earned a four-year, $104 million contract.

A third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Williams has the potential to become a game-wrecker at defensive tackle. A three-down player who can hold his against both the run and pass, the Patriots believe Williams is due for stardom now that he’s in town.

The problem is that so far in his career, Williams has not produced like a player worth a $104 million deal. Last season, Williams played just 48% of the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive snaps, and while they had a ton of depth on their defensive line, in the eyes of some, this contract is too rich for their liking.

With the Patriots, Williams is going to be on the field as much as possible, which should help him increase his individual statistics. And while he knows some people don’t think he’s worth such a big contract, the reigning Super Bowl champion isn’t concerned.

“You know it’s there,” Williams said when discussing the pressure that comes with this new deal, per Kayla Burton of NBC Sports Boston. “When they invest that much into you, the good, the bad, you gonna hear it all day, every day.”

“I just come here and try to get better every day … Constantly improving on the technique that they’re coaching me on … Whatever spot they put me in, just going out there and being productive.”

Williams is coming off arguably the best game of his career in Super Bowl LIX, as he racked up four tackles and two sacks, while also forcing and recovering a fumble. That’s the player the Patriots are hoping to get when Williams suits up for them starting in Week 1.

With a monster new contract in the books, Williams is facing expectations he hasn’t had to deal with early in his career. And despite that, all he cares about is getting better for his new team, which is precisely what New England and their fans want to see.