The New England Patriots did not give Milton Williams a four-year,$104 million contract this offseason to use him in the same role the Philadelphia Eagles had between 2021 and 2024. During his four seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, he started only 21 of 77 games and averaged below 50 percent of defensive snaps every year.

If his first game as a Patriots is an indicator, those days are over. In its season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel used the high-priced free agency pickup as a starter and three-down contributor. As such, Williams ended the game with new career highs in total defensive snaps (49) and playing time share (78%).

The unfamiliar workload did not prove to be a problem for the 26-year-old. Williams was one of the Patriots’ best pl

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