Philadelphia Eagles: Milton Williams is a classic Howie Roseman pick

Say what you will about the Philadelphia Eagles‘ ability to evaluate defensive talent, but they certainly have a type at defensive end.

Whether picking in the first, third, or even seventh round, the Eagles have largely targeted short, stout edge rushers who can play the run on their way to the quarterback and occasionally kick it inside to rush the QB from the tackle position. Granted, occasionally, the team will mix things up and pick a player like Josh Sweat or Casey Toohill who could conceivably play either 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker, but for the most part, it’s been a decade of Derek Barnetts, Brandon Grahams, and Vinny Currys who won’t blow you away with speed but are capable pocket collapsers who win with power.

Despite landing a new defensive coordinator who came up with big, long defensive ends like Danielle Hunter, who can bend around would-be blockers to get to the QB, some habits die hard, and instead of selecting a cornerback, linebacker, or running back to further fortify positions of need, Howie Roseman decided to further fortify his team’s defensive strengths with a young inside-out rusher who can conceivably grow into a bigger role moving forward.

Milton Williams, come on down!

Milton Williams is a small school kid with a Philadelphia Eagles attitude.

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LA Tech is not what you would call an NFL factory.

Sure, there are eight former Bulldogs in the NFL right now, including none other than the Philadelphia Eagles’ change of pace RB du jour Boston Scott, but the school often gets overlooked by its big brother down the road who routinely claim the best players in the Bayou State for their own.

With that being said, the NFL is a global game at this point, and if a scout can identify 6-foot-8 rugby players in Australia as a potential developmental offensive tackle, they can surely mosey on over to Ruston to catch a game or two of the best Conference USA has to offer.

Milton Williams unquestionably falls into that category.

Measuring in at 6-foot-4, 278 pounds, Williams is an absolute athletic freak. His bench press reps, three-cone drill, 40-yard dash, shuttle run, vertical jump, and broad jump all landed within the 90th percentile or greater, and the only reason his 10-yard split didn’t also meet that mark is because he opted not to run it at LA Tech’s Pro Day.

And on tape, his explosivity translates.

Whether rushing inside or out, Williams was an explosive force for the Bull Dogs’ defensive line, easily shredding through the not quite ready for prime time offensive lines of Conference USA with ease. He’s strong, twitchy, and already boasts a solid collection of moves to burst by opposing blockers on his way to the quarterback. Williams even boasts an ability to stand up and rush from the inside linebacker position, which was a look Jim Schwartz tried far too infrequently with Genard Avery last season.

Did you like the idea of landing Kwity Paye in the first round or Boogie Basham in the second? Fear not, for Williams was the best BG clone left on the board when the Eagles took the clock at 73 and could fill a similar role with the team moving forward.

Assuming the Eagles don’t trade one of their defensive ends before the end of the draft, Williams will likely slot in as the Eagles’ fourth defensive end in 2021. While that may not seem like a big role, if Jonathan Gannon opts to roll with a similar eight-man rotation this fall, it should still keep Williams on the field for 40-plus percent of the snaps; maybe more depending on how he plays.

But in 2021, things open up significantly for Williams.

With Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat only under contract through the 2021 season, and Brandon Graham’s current deal expiring in 2022, Williams could conceivably grow into a full-time starting role as early as next season without having the pressure to contribute right away. He probably will contribute right away, as Williams’ talent is undeniable – he did amass 108 total tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, and 10.5 sacks in only three seasons at Tech after all – but not having that pressure if things don’t immediately work out is a savvy strategy for a player transitioning from Conference USA to the NFL.

If you like production, drive, and a feel-good story, Williams is your guy.

Should the Philadelphia Eagles have selected a different player with the 70th overall pick? …considering their needs at cornerback and linebacker, probably, especially if that player was Stanford corner Paulson Adebo, but it’s hard to knock the pick after the initial shock wears off. Milton Williams is an athletic freak, a productive lineman, and a near-perfect fit for the Eagles’ established prototype. For the price, the team deserves at least some benefit of the doubt.