At the beginning of training camp, it looked like Kyle Williams' days with the New England Patriots may have been numbered. It was always going to be impossible for him to leapfrog A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, and Kayshon Boutte (assuming he stays) in the depth chart, and it seemed like he was behind Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and maybe even Efton Chism in the Patriots' crowded receiver room.
But in preseason (yes, I get it), he has looked incredible and is not only proving that New England should keep him on its roster, but he can be an asset for a long time.
Kyle Williams has the talent and potential to succeed with the Patriots
Through two preseason games this year, the Baltimore native has recorded four receptions and 111 yards for two touchdowns. Even though he's up against second- and third-string cornerbacks, he still looks very comfortable on the field, is using his elite speed and release skills to his advantage, and is doing a great job of getting to his spot.
Williams isn't all that great at doing the little things, and he's more of a one-trick pony at this point (just put him on a go route and see if he can take the top off the defense), but he can still be an asset in New England.
You can't teach speed or athleticism, and Williams has those covered. Plus, he's just 23 years old and still has a ton of room/time to grow, and with Drake Maye (one of the best deep-ball throwers in the league) at the helm, there's always going to be room for someone like Williams to make an impact.
He's never going to become Randy Moss, but there's a lot to like about the Washington State alum and what he brings to the table in New England, and he's showing that in preseason.
The Patriots seem to have high hopes for Kyle Williams
About a week before New England's first preseason game this year, head coach Mike Vrabel spoke highly of Williams and what he has to offer during a training camp conference, making it clear that the team has high hopes for him.
"I really, really know that Kyle’s gonna help us. His speed is gonna help us. And I don't wanna use this and get this to be overblown, but I'm going to use the word scheme. I mean, he's got a skill set, right? We're gonna find ways to get him the ball, and it may be outside of just normal installation plays, but that's my responsibility, that's Josh [McDaniels’] responsibility, that's Todd [Downing’s] responsibility," Vrabel said.
"I know that he is gonna be a large part of what we're gonna do, and those opportunities will continue to come. His release skills, his speed, his vertical speed, those are all things that we have to continue to take advantage of as we progress."
It's also important to remember that the Patriots took Williams in the third round of the draft just a year ago. They clearly have a vision for him and feel like he can be a big part of the team's short- and long-term success.
Even though there is still a lot of work cut out for the second-year receiver (and he likely won't have much of a role this season anyway), he is still a player fans should keep an eye on as he is proving he can become a legitimate weapon for the Patriots.
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