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The New England Patriots have told wide receiver Kyle Williams to make a series of improvements.
New England Patriots Executive Vice President of player personnel Eliot Wolf issued a challenge to second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams, after a promising rookie season.
Williams had a complementary role in the Patriots’ offense. He recorded 10 receptions for 209 yards and three touchdowns as a rotation receiver. He also managed to take over kickoff return duties following the season-ending injury to Antonio Gibson.
The Washington State product had a knack for the big play. His longest reception of the season was a 72-yard touchdown catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All three of his receiving touchdowns were for over 30 yards in length. He was the first Patriots wide receiver to achieve this feat since Chris Hogan did so in 2016.
Patriots Brass Wants Williams To Step Up
The explosive playmaking ability was evident. Now, move wants to see more from the wide receiver. CLNS Media reported this on Tuesday afternoon.
“The way we used him was as more of a speed player… He’s got more in him that he could show. He’s gotta get stronger.”
Williams was a playmaker at the collegiate level. He spent three seasons at UNLV before transferring to Washington State. He recorded 240 receptions for 3,609 yards and 29 touchdowns over the span of five seasons. His best season came in 2024. He recorded 70 catches for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns. The wideout also averaged 17.1 yards per catch. This was the highest number in his collegiate career.
Williams measures in at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds. Gaining additional strength may cause him to lose a bit of his speed. That being said, this could make him a more difficult matchup for opposing defensive backs. He has all the other tools, such as the ability to gain separation, as well as that top-end speed.
Despite room for growth, Williams is on a positive trajectory. He ranks third among the five Patriots wide receivers taken in the last three drafts in terms of production. Only Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas have more.
Williams Showed Promise For Patriots in 2025
Given his role, Williams showed promise in 2025. Stefon Diggs was the top wide receiver, while Douglas and Boutte also served their roles. Given Wolf’s comments, it should be reasonable to expect that Williams will be in line for a much bigger role in 2025. The Patriots need to continue to get younger at the wide receiver position. Williams is a prime candidate to help the position not only get younger, but also get faster.
It will be intriguing to see if Williams heeds Wolf’s advice. The potential is certainly there, and the production is a chance to follow. That being said, this will be an important year for Williams as he looks to make his mark in what is a crowded wide receiver room. The Patriots have depth at the position, and they are not afraid to use it. It will be interesting to see how Williams performs in his second year, with a full NFL offseason under his belt as well as an additional year in the offense.
Danny Jaillet Danny Jaillet is a sportswriter with more than 15 years experience in the industry. He has been featured on Fox Sports, USA Today, and Yahoo Sports among others. He graduated from Worcester State University with a B.A. in communications and a minor in writing. More about Danny Jaillet
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