New England Patriots - NESN.com
In most cases, fans wouldn’t want rookies focusing on money before they even play their first game. But Kyle Williams will get a pass this time.
The first-year receiver, selected 69th by the Patriots in the 2025 NFL Draft, knows he must catch the ball to earn playing time in New England. And Williams has a humorous way of approaching potential drops.
“My mindset is, don’t drop the money,” Williams told WEEI’s Meghan Ottolini after volunteering at a Boston football clinic on Thursday. “Every time the ball is there, it’s a bag of money. We can’t let that hit the floor, because (then) that’s somebody else’s.
“Just being able to make those plays, just showing that I can compete against those top-tier guys in the league.”
Despite being just a third-round pick, Williams was highly regarded ahead of the NFL draft, and many expect him to carve out a large role in the Patriots offense. However, it’s worth noting that struggles with drops were among the knocks against Williams during his career at Washington State.
Williams reportedly impressed throughout Patriots OTAs and minicamp, with his big-play ability adding an explosive element to New England’s passing game. The 22-year-old is looking forward to training camp, especially the opportunity to work against star cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
“It makes me excited because Gonzo’s, like, I think it’s an iron-sharpens-iron thing,” Williams told Ottolini. “Going against Gonzo is going to help me better my game.
