Milton Williams was drafted by the Eagles in the third round of the 2021 draft. The pick wasn’t necessarily a splash move considering the fact that it will be mostly remembered as the pick that sparked an altercation between Howie Roseman and Tom Donahue. Williams was a defensive tackle from LA Tech who flashed as a gifted pass rusher, but appeared to be weak against the run, which was ultimately why he fell.
In his rookie year, his ability flashed on tape, but there was little sustainability. He finished with a 49.0 overall PFF grade in 494 total snaps for the Eagles. In all honesty, I was ready at the time to admit the pick was a mistake, but Williams proved me terribly wrong in 2022.
The flashes he showed in his rookie year really carried over into more consistent play. Williams, still in a limited snap count, managed to show his ability by making quick pass rush moves with his hands and by running down plays that went beyond the backfield.
Next year it seems certain that Williams will take on an extended role and hopefully prove to more football fans that he is a legitimate starting level defensive tackle in the NFL. I’m no tape aficionado or football expert in any way (especially when it comes to evaluating DTs), but I just have a very strong feeling that Milton Williams is in for a big 2023.