Kyle Williams Flashed Big-Play Potential in 2025 - Can He Break Out in Year Two?
The New England Patriots may have found a sparkplug in Kyle Williams. Drafted in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the 23-year-old wide receiver didn’t rack up gaudy numbers in his rookie campaign - but when he made plays, they were loud.
Williams showed a knack for stretching the field, and Pro Football Focus has already tabbed him as a breakout candidate heading into 2026. That’s not a stretch when you look at what he did with limited opportunities. His rookie tape includes some jaw-dropping moments: a 72-yard touchdown bomb against Tampa Bay in Week 10, a 33-yard score under the bright lights of Monday Night Football versus the Giants in Week 13, and a clutch 37-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of a Week 16 Sunday night showdown with the Ravens.
Those splash plays weren’t just eye candy - they hinted at a receiver with true vertical-threat potential. Williams finished the regular season with just 10 receptions on 21 targets, but he turned those into 209 yards and three touchdowns.
That’s a whopping 20.9 yards per catch, the fourth-best mark in the league among players with at least 10 receptions. When he got the ball, he made it count.
Digging deeper, PFF’s metrics paint a clearer picture of his role in New England’s offense. Among Patriots pass-catchers with at least 25 targets across the regular season and playoffs, Williams led the group in average depth of target (18.7 yards) and deep-target rate (37.0%). Translation: when the Patriots looked his way, it was usually for a home run.
But consistency - both in targets and production - was a challenge. Williams logged just two games with multiple catches and went without a reception in 11 contests. In the postseason, he was largely a non-factor, catching two passes for 14 yards on six targets.
So what’s next for the young wideout? Can he carve out a bigger role in 2026?
That’s the million-dollar question, especially with a crowded receiver room. Williams played just 31% of the team’s offensive snaps last year, competing for reps behind veterans like Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, and DeMario Douglas.
And the competition might only get tougher. New England has been linked to several high-profile receivers this offseason - including A.J.
Brown, Alec Pierce, and George Pickens - which could further squeeze the opportunities available.
Still, Williams has one thing working in his favor: versatility. After running back Antonio Gibson went down with a torn ACL in Week 5, Williams got a shot on special teams. He shared kickoff return duties with Efton Chism III, D’Ernest Johnson, and TreVeyon Henderson, but stood out with the highest average return (26.4 yards) and the longest return of the group (36 yards).
That kind of explosiveness on special teams could be his ticket to more offensive snaps. We’ve seen this story before in New England.
Julian Edelman, Wes Welker, Danny Amendola - all carved out bigger roles by first proving their value in the return game. If Williams can follow that blueprint, he might just force his way onto the field more often.
The tools are there - speed, burst, and a clear ability to stretch defenses vertically. If he can add consistency to that toolkit and earn the trust of the coaching staff, Kyle Williams could go from deep threat to dependable playmaker in 2026.