The New England Patriots built much of their NFL Draft class around setting second-year quarterback, and former No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye up for success in 2025.
However, even after taking potential franchise left tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 overall pick as a cornerstone of a rebuilt offensive line in front of Maye, it might be another one of New England’s selection that sets the Patriots’ quarterback up to make a major leap this fall.
According to NFL Media analyst Gennaro Filice, the Patriots collected the premier draft class across the league, and it was wide receiver Kyle Williams who has the potential to make the most significant impact.
“A home-run hitter with 14 receiving touchdowns last year at Washington State,” Filice writes. “Williams gained more and more fans as the pre-draft process played out. New England’s receiving corps has lacked dynamism for years; this could be the wideout who changes that.”
During the week leading up to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Williams caught just about everything thrown his way and looked like not only a smooth route runner but the kind of reliable pass-catcher who can elevate Maye and the rest of the Patriots’ offense, even as a rookie.
New England Patriots WR Kyle Williams Scouting Report
Williams arrives in Foxboro off the most prolific season of a stellar collegiate career.
Last season, the six-feet and 186-pound Williams caught a career-high 79 asses for 1,198 yards with 14 touchdowns while averaging a prolific 17.1 yards per reception.
“Williams will never be tabbed as “sure-handed” but he can separate deep,” NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein writes of Williams. “And create big plays, which could make the catch issues easier to swallow. He eliminates pursuit angles as a catch-and-run artist and gets respectful cushions, allowing for easy comeback throws. His lack of route-running fundamentals limit his tree, but that should be correctable with work.”
If the No. 69 overall pick in this spring’s draft can approach that level of production, the Patriots will have landed one of the biggest steals of the entire draft, especially given the outsized need at receiver opposite Stefon Diggs in Maye’s arsenal.
