After using their No. 4 pick to select LSU left tackle Will Campbell in the 2025 NFL Draft, most believed the Patriots would take a wide receiver in Round 2. Given the options and their incredible need at the position, they were in a prime spot to take one of the best prospects of the class, even having enough capital to trade up, if need be.
Instead, Mike Vrabel and Co. chose a different weapon by surprisingly taking Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson, a move most analysts and fans did not predict. Because the backfield was not considered a serious need, passing on the receiver talent available felt like a potential mistake.
However, they used their next pick on Kyle Williams, a receiver out of Washington State. Despite his high praise for his speed and fit with the Patriots, fans were divided over the decision due to the players who remained on the board at the time.
He has since seemingly won most doubters over, and that might continue as more details surrounding the Patriots' decision to draft him remain a conversation nearly two weeks after the event concluded.
Kyle Williams impressed the Patriots' staff with a selfless decision to end his college career
Besides his natural athleticism and ability to stretch the field for Drake Maye, there are many reasons to like Williams on the Patriots, one of which is a big component of why the team took a liking to him in the pre-draft process.
The Patriots have historically been a franchise that seriously includes character and attitude into their draft decisions, most importantly putting the team first, something that Bill Belichick made known throughout his tenure. Vrabel has done the same thus far, which makes it easier to understand why Williams' decision to play in an otherwise pointless bowl game impressed the head coach and his staff so much.
Former Washington State coach Jake Dickert pointed that out to ESPN's Mike Reiss, sharing that Williams was the first player to commit to playing in the Holiday Bowl.
“When your best player puts his foot down and says, ‘This is important, we need to do it,’ and he’s the first one to step out on the field, there is a lot of power in that."
His high character and leadership will inevitably be top traits to rely upon as he joins the Patriots locker room, one of which Vrabel is hoping to improve upon after what happened throughout the 2024 season.
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Williams' former head coach believes he can easily do that because he was that guy for his teammates at Washington State.
"[H]e was one of the catalysts for the type of effort and energy that team played with. He earned it, and you do that through a ton of action. He also knew the value he could create for himself. He went out there and people saw every step of the way, ‘This guy loves ball. He loves playing. He loves his teammates.’ To do that, I think, is a big stamp on the character piece of Kyle Williams.”
It's clear that Williams is the kind of player the new regime is prioritizing to get into the locker room, especially after rumors of a near mutiny last season.
Adding players with his mentality and selflessness is much needed and can set the Patriots up for long-term success in more ways than just production on the field. At this stage in their rebuild, it's fair to argue that it's almost as important as what they can do on game day, making Williams a fantastic pick by Vrabel and Co. to add to the long list of their high-quality draft picks.