Rookies tend to look for inspiration wherever they can get it once they enter the NFL, and the Patriots' Kyle Williams hasn't had to look very far to find his. Williams is relying on a valuable source in one of the greatest players to have ever played for the organization.
The second episode of "Forged in Foxborough" recently dropped on YouTube, and towards the beginning of the episode, Williams was seen walking out of practice alongside Super Bowl hero Julian Edelman.
The biggest advice Edelman gave Williams was to rely on preparation, which aligns well with the Patriot Way.
"I just always leaned on like preparation. If I dropped a ball, I'd go catch 500 balls before or after practice until I didn't drop a ball," Edelman told Williams.
Julian Edelman's presence could provide a spark plug for young Patriots' receivers
When the Patriots drafted Williams in the third round this spring, he was viewed as one of many vital pieces brought in to give second-year quarterback Drake Maye the playmakers he needs. New England is hoping that Williams can be one of many guys who turbocharge the receiving corps.
The last Patriots' receiver to crack the 1,000-yard barrier, poetically, was Edelman in 2019, so Williams is looking for motivation and hunger in the right spot. Edelman was a seventh-round draft choice and a college quarterback who had to scrap and claw just to make the team, but he turned that chance into one of the best careers in franchise history.
That included three Super Bowl championships and five AFC titles during Edelman's time in New England. Having guys like Edelman around the building again is a vital factor in rebuilding the culture that was established when Tom Brady was ruling the league.
It remains to be seen if Williams will have a career like Edelman's in New England. Unlike Edelman, Williams is billed as a guy who can be a deep threat.
Fortunately, the Patriots have veterans already on the roster, such as Stefon Diggs and Rhamondre Stevenson, who young guys like Williams can look up to for guidance and work ethic standpoints. But following in the footsteps of a guy like Edelman, who had no off switch, is a good start.