Kyle Williams had a great preseason for the New England Patriots, often looking like the best player on the field (even against other teams' B- and C-level players, it was very promising to see how comfortable he looked). And now with Kayshon Boutte gone, A.J. Brown out for at least a month after being placed on the injured reserve due to a high-ankle sprain, and Romeo Doubs putting up a stinker in his Patriots debut (though fans shouldn't count him out just yet), it might be the Baltimore native's time to shine.
Patriots can give Kyle Williams a huge opportunity
The Patriots clearly like Williams, drafting him in the third round last year, giving him huge praise from head coach Mike Vrabel during training camp, and maybe feeling a little more comfortable trading Boutte because of him.
Williams was okay during his rookie year (10 receptions on 21 targets, 209 yards, three touchdowns -- he even recorded a reception in the Super Bowl), but he showed some great flashes in his limited role.
Probably the biggest appeal of the Washington State alum is his incredible speed and release skills. At this stage in his career, he's mostly a one-trick pony (just put him on a go route and throw him the ball if he gets open), but that trick seems to work out pretty well for him. And especially given Brown's absence, the Patriots may benefit from utilizing Williams a lot more to open the field and take the top off the defense.
Obviously, relying on Williams this early in the season isn't ideal, but New England may not have much of a choice. The team needs some explosiveness and a whole new dynamic on offense without Brown, and the 23-year-old can provide that. They don't need him to be Randy Moss right away (especially since he would still be in a complementary role behind Doubs, DeMario Douglas, and Mack Hollins), and this is as good a time as any to give him an expanded role and see what he can do with it.
Kyle Williams' future in New England looks bright
Regardless of what ends up happening in the short-term, there's a lot to like about Williams' fit with the Patriots and his long-term outlook. He's young, he's talented, and it's clear that the team likes him. Plus, all of his flaws (namely his versatility as a route runner and physicality) are fixable.
You can't teach speed, athleticism, or explosiveness, and Williams already has all of that. He's still a work in progress, but it's easy to see the vision with him.
He's not ready to replace Boutte or immediately become Drake Maye's new favorite target, but Williams has the tools to be a fantastic player for a long time, and fans should be excited about his potential.
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