A 2021 third-round pick out of Louisiana Tech, Williams grew into a cornerstone on the Eagles’ line as his rookie contract wound down. Philadelphia’s front office opted to invest rather than re-sign him, channeling draft capital into Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis—two first-round stalwarts they hoped would anchor the front for years to come.
The free-agent market for Williams became a race down the stretch, with reports noting Carolina, Arizona, and New England in the mix before the Patriots emerged as the winner. ESPN’s reporting put the Patriots in the lead, with Williams slated to average around $26 million per year, a figure that surpassed projections from many analysts.
Projected value prior to free agency had Williams closer to the $17.9 million per season range, per Spotrac, making the Patriots’ four-year, $104 million deal a significant step above market expectations at the time. Williams had earned roughly $6.8 million across four seasons with Philadelphia before hitting free agency, underscoring the magnitude of the payday he received.
With New England, Williams has become a key piece of a defense that can contend for a second consecutive Super Bowl, a path that intensified after his standout Super Bowl performance—2.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery—along with a memorable late-game dunk after a strip-sack sequence on Patrick Mahomes.
The broader takeaway from Williams’ free-agent saga is the potential impact of the Eagles’ decision to shift their defensive long-term plan toward Carter and Davis. Williams’ father told The Philadelphia Inquirer that his son was upset about not receiving an offer to return, highlighting how a single contract decision can shape a player’s career trajectory and alter perceptions of a team’s roster strategy.
