The NFL free agency period is a time for both celebration and heartbreak. Although signing some of the big-name free agents can be quite the thrill, it's also the time of the offseason when players' choices can leave fans disappointed, whether it's a fan favorite leaving town or an available name opting to sign elsewhere.
The Carolina Panthers have done plenty of celebrating so far, handing out 10 new contracts to new and returning players. One player who the Panthers didn't sign, though, is defensive tackle Milton Williams, who joined the New England Patriots on a $104 million contract.
In a recent interview, the Super Bowl-winning defender finally revealed why he decided to choose the Patriots over the Panthers.
Patriots' Contract Offer Made DT Milton Williams Feel More Wanted Than Panthers
On Friday, Williams spoke with NFL Network's The Insiders regarding his free agency experience. The former Louisiana Tech Bulldog admitted that while he was initially enticed by the Panthers' offer, it was the Patriots who made him feel more wanted.
"I was like, 'Alright, (Carolina's contract) sounds like the best offer we are going to get, so, we were going to go there.' Then, a split second later, New England hopped on and was like, 'Nah, this is what we got for you,'" Williams revealed. "Carolina felt like they went too high on their number, so, they stayed at where they were at. New England came in, and it was (over) after that."
"(The Patriots) wanted me the most and made me a priority. So, I made them a priority."
Milton Williams explains to @judybattista + @TomPelissero just how close he was to becoming a Panther instead of a Patriot on tonight's "The Insiders" https://t.co/BTVkeHK10B
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) March 21, 2025
The Patriots entered the offseason with the most salary cap space in the NFL. In other words, it isn't surprising that they were willing to outbid the Panthers — and any other potential suitor — to the tune of $26 million annually.
What is surprising about Williams' interview, though, is that the Panthers "felt like they went too high on their number." It suggests that general manager Dan Morgan probably thought his initial offer was an overpay, which makes one wonder why Carolina approached the veteran DT in the first place. After all, it's common knowledge that teams will likely need to overpay to land the biggest free agents.
Nevertheless, all negotiations are in the past and Williams is now a Patriot. As much as any team would love to add a Super Bowl-winning defender, it remains to be seen if he can live up to his new contract considering he only had 11 solo tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble, and a defended pass in 17 games (7 starts) with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
The good news is that the Panthers didn't need Williams to fortify their defensive line. They signed DTs Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown to three-year contracts, which only combine for just over $66 million — $38 million less than the Patriots are paying Williams.
Interestingly enough, the Panthers will travel to Foxborough to face the Patriots next season. Although an official date isn't confirmed, it clearly won't be long before Carolina learns if it made the right decision not to overpay Williams.