The New England Patriots made it their mission to surround Drake Maye with more playmakers. They liked what they saw from the young signal caller and wanted to give him more opportunities to flourish in 2025.
Rookies report on July 19, with veterans coming in shortly after on July 22nd. There will be plenty of battles taking place on the field, and rookie receiver Kyle Williams may snag one of the starting receiver spots on offense.
Patriots WR Kyle Williams Could Breakout in Training Camp
During OTA and minicamp practices, Williams was someone who stood out on the field. He made some acrobatic grabs while quickly showcasing that he can create separation on the field.
The Patriots had the worst passing offense in the NFL last season with just 176.1 passing yards per game. That's nowhere good enough, and New England understood that. They handed Stefon Diggs a three-year, $69 million deal in free agency, but they still weren't content. He's a 31-year-old receiver coming off a torn ACL.
That's why Williams was the 69th overall pick. During his collegiate career with Washington State, he displayed several release packages to get off the line of scrimmage and create throwing windows for his quarterback to deliver the ball. He can also do damage after the catch to create chunk plays.
Between 2023 & 2024 with the Cougars, he recorded 131 catches for 2,040 receiving yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15.4 yards per catch.
If healthy, Diggs will easily be the No. 1 WR, which isn't any kind of bold statement. Outside of that, there aren't any WR spots locked down. Considering that Mike Vrabel and his staff are entering their first year, players will need to earn their stripes.
There are certainly things they like about Williams, which is why they made him a top 70 pick. DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte are going into their third seasons, while Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker go into their sophomore seasons, potentially being on the roster bubble. Mack Hollins and Kendrick Bourne are also in the fold, but they are good veteran depth pieces.
There will be opportunities for taking, and Williams is someone who could seize the chance. Fans should be keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old over the next few weeks, but shouldn't be surprised when his name emerges.