The New England Patriots have soared in an improbable run to the top of the AFC East after eight games. Led by quarterback Drake Maye, the team is on an upward trajectory, and one of its other major components has been the stellar play and great attitude of its biggest free agency signing, defensive tackle Milton Williams.
Mike Vrabel brushed aside silliness about his only playing 48 percent of 2024 snaps for the Champion Eagles and realized Williams was a budding superstar in the making. He's justified the big four-year, $104M contract and is leading the defensive line. He already has 3.5 sacks from the interior D-line and is just rounding into mid-season form.
Winning is the goal for Williams, but he's clearly not satisfied with that alone if there's room for improvement by his defense. He's looking for more, and that thirst for perfection is just the type of attitude a rising team needs if it's going to shock the NFL world.
Milton Williams wants defensive perfection and he's out to get it
Williams' striving for excellence even after a solid win is a great sign for Head Coach Mike Vrabel and his team. Williams is a de facto leader on the defense, whether he's a captain or not. He's a tone-setter, and his great attitude is important.
Milton Williams was not pleased with the #Patriots defensive performance against Cleveland.
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) October 28, 2025
“I think I’m just a perfectionist or something — something might be wrong with me. I just feel like we could’ve did more... But I’d rather win the game and correct mistakes than lose it.” pic.twitter.com/FssRaBtCqz
That's a positive for the Patriots' defense, which, while seemingly on the upswing, is still not getting enough three-and-outs to satisfy either Patriot Nation or probably the coaching staff. As the competition stiffens, that feature will be an essential component of a playoff season.
Milton Williams' attitude has to be that of the entire Patriots team
As a Super Bowl winner whose play helped the Eagles beat the Chiefs in the 2025 season's biggest game, Williams knows what it takes to win it all. While a Patriots run for all the marbles may not be in the 2025 cards, it shouldn't be ruled out. They have 2001 as an example of where, in a similar situation, the Tom Brady-led team won it all.
The 2025 Patriots have the most essential component of a Super Bowl winner, a top NFL quarterback in Drake Maye. While only a just-turned-23-year-old, Maye is playing like a seasoned veteran. His completion stats after eight games are at an astronomical 75.2 percent, and he's threatening to set a new single-season NFL record. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is also superb at 15/3.
If Williams' "never be satisfied" attitude is shared by Maye and his offense, as well as Williams' defensive compatriots, there is no limit to what this team might achieve, especially if Vrabel can add a top player or two at the trade deadline. All signs are pointing up, and Milton Williams is one of the major reasons why.