The Patriots’ offseason moves have made one thing clear: Kyle Williams is not being treated like an afterthought.
New England kept reshaping its receiver group, first by bringing in Romeo Doubs as the apparent answer for Stefon Diggs, then by adding A.J. Brown in a move that pushed the room even further forward. After that, the team sent the disgruntled Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans in a trade that Mike Vrabel said made sense because there wasn’t room for him if everyone stayed healthy, and his contract situation left him as the obvious odd man out.
That decision also sends a message about Williams. The Patriots clearly believe enough in him to move on from Boutte, and Williams appears to know the opportunity in front of him.
He’s not approaching this season like a player trying to blend in. He’s trying to force the issue.
"You know, I knew I had to come and prove a point, and I'm still trying to prove that point," the Washington State product told WCVB's Angel Salcedo. "So my mindset just was a whole lot different than last year."
Williams, a former third-round pick, didn’t fully cash in on the expectations that came with being viewed as a draft steal during his rookie year. He closed that first season with 10 receptions for 290 yards and three receiving touchdowns.
This summer, though, he’s looked like a different player. After a strong training camp, he’s been the bright spot in Josh McDaniels’ offense during the preseason. In three games, Williams caught six passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns.
The big-play ability showed up over and over again. He hauled in receptions of 25, 69, and 45 yards, and while those plays came against vanilla defenses and third-stringers, they still reinforced the same idea: Williams brings more than just depth.
The Patriots’ receiver group was underwhelming in the first year of the Mike Vrabel era, but Drake Maye still put together a huge season with more than 30 passing touchdowns, over 4,300 passing yards, and a 72 percent completion percentage.
With another full training camp behind him, the expectations around Maye only grow. Reports have been encouraging, and the upgraded offensive line and improved weapons only add to the outlook for New England’s passing game.
Still, Williams won’t be handed anything. Brown is the clear top target, and Doubs is expected to have a major role as well. That leaves Williams fighting for every snap, every route, and every chance to earn Maye’s trust.
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