Kyle Williams Is Flashing Big-Play Potential - Now the Patriots Need to Let Him Loose
The 2025 NFL Draft was a turning point for the New England Patriots - a franchise in transition under new head coach Mike Vrabel. Several rookies have already carved out starting roles, giving this team a much-needed infusion of young talent.
But one name that hasn’t quite broken through yet, at least not in terms of playing time, is third-round wide receiver Kyle Williams. That said, when he has gotten the ball, the flashes have been impossible to ignore.
Let’s be clear: Kyle Williams isn’t just fast - he’s game-breaking fast. The kind of speed that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
But through 13 games, Williams has only been targeted 13 times. That’s one target per game for a player who’s already proven he can flip the field in an instant.
Two of his five catches have gone for touchdowns, including a 72-yard bomb against Tampa Bay and a 33-yarder against the Giants. That kind of efficiency - 143 yards on just five receptions - isn’t just eye-catching.
It’s a neon sign flashing: **Get this guy the ball. **
Williams knows it too. He’s not complaining, but he’s aware of the potential that hasn’t been tapped yet.
“I know there is so much more out there for me. I've yet to scratch the surface and I'm still learning.
Just grateful for the experience. After Year 1, we'll dig deep in that bag a little more.”
That’s the kind of mindset you want from a young receiver. Hungry, humble, and ready to work. But it also highlights the reality - we haven’t seen anywhere close to the full Kyle Williams experience yet.
The Depth Chart Dilemma
Right now, Williams sits fifth on the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart behind Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, and DeMario “Pop” Douglas. That’s a tough group to crack, especially with Diggs commanding top coverage and Douglas emerging as a reliable slot weapon. But Williams brings something none of them - aside from Diggs in spurts - truly possess: instant acceleration and home-run speed.
He clocked a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, and his explosiveness off the line is something you can’t coach. He’s got that rare ability to hit top gear almost immediately after the catch - a trait that showed up consistently on his Washington State film and is now starting to surface in limited NFL action.
More Than Just a Deep Threat
This isn’t just about stretching the field, though Williams can absolutely do that. What makes Williams so dangerous is what happens after the catch.
His first step is elite. He doesn’t ease into his acceleration - he erupts.
That kind of burst makes him a nightmare in open space, and it’s why he should be getting more designed touches, even if he’s still refining the nuances of route running.
If he’s not fully polished in the route tree yet, that’s fine. Scheme him into plays that maximize what he can do right now.
Quick slants, screens, jet sweeps - anything that gets the ball in his hands with room to work. Give him 5-7 targets a game in packages built around his strengths, and let the defense try to keep up.
A Missed Opportunity - For Now
Right now, the Patriots are leaving big plays on the table. Williams has already shown he can flip a game with a single touch. That kind of explosiveness is rare, and it’s exactly what this offense - still finding its identity under Vrabel - could use more of.
There’s no question that Williams is still developing. But even in a limited role, he’s proven he’s a weapon.
The Patriots don’t need to wait for perfection. They need to start leveraging the tools he already has - speed, burst, and big-play instincts - and build from there.
Because if they do? We’re not just talking about a promising rookie anymore.
We’re talking about a player who can tilt the field every time he lines up. And for a Patriots team trying to build a new identity, that’s exactly the kind of spark they need.