The New England Patriots did not give Milton Williams a four-year,$104 million contract this offseason to use him in the same role the Philadelphia Eagles had between 2021 and 2024. During his four seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, he started only 21 of 77 games and averaged below 50 percent of defensive snaps every year.
If his first game as a Patriots is an indicator, those days are over. In its season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel used the high-priced
free agency pickup as a starter and three-down contributor. As such, Williams ended the game with new career highs in total defensive snaps (49) and playing time share (78%).
The unfamiliar workload did not prove to be a problem for the 26-year-old. Williams was one of the Patriots’ best players and finished with four tackles and quarterback pressures each.
“I thought Milt was disruptive and had some really good plays,” Vrabel said on Monday. “I think that when he sees how he can mix his penetration in with playing with his hands and playing with some technique and those things all factored, then he’ll start to finish more. But I thought he showed well and continued to go.”
Here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ 20-13 loss at Gillette Stadium.
Offense
Total snaps: 71 | Time on the field: 28:42
QB Drake Maye* (71; 100%), LT Will Campbell* (71; 100%), LG Jared Wilson* (71; 100%), C Garrett Bradbury* (71; 100%), RG Mike Onwenu* (71; 100%), RT Morgan Moses* (71; 100%), TE Hunter Henry* (66; 93%), WR Kayshon Boutte* (58; 82%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson* (46; 65%), WR DeMario Douglas (45; 63%), WR Stefon Diggs* (40; 56%), WR Mack Hollins* (38; 54%), RB TreVeyon Henderson (25; 35%), TE Austin Hooper (23; 32%), WR Kyle Williams (7; 10%), RB Antonio Gibson (5; 7%), FB/TE Jack Westover (2; 3%)
*denotes starter
At least as far as personnel usage is concerned, the Patriots offense looked as expected on Sunday. Drake Maye and the starting offensive line — a unit featuring rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson at left tackle and left guard, respectively — went wire-to-wire. The supporting cast surrounding New England’s starting quarterback also included all of the familiar faces you would expect.
Still, there are a few things that standout. For starters, there was a clear pecking order at running back: veteran Rhamondre Stevenson and second-round running back TreVeyon Henderson were the one-two, with Antonio Gibson little more than a depth option. Given that the Patriots struggled to move the ball on the ground, however, one is left wondering if decreasing Stevenson’s snap count in favor of the more elusive options on the roster — Henderson in particular — might have brought more success.
Additionally, Kayshon Boutte led the wide receivers in snaps and likely would have had an even higher share if not for a brief injury scare in the first quarter. Furthermore, both of Jack Westover’s snaps came at fullback rather than tight end.
Defense
Total snaps: 63 | Time on the field: 28:43
LB Robert Spillane* (63; 100%), CB Carlton Davis III*( 63; 100%), CB Alex Austin* (63; 100%), S Craig Woodson* (63; 100%), S Jaylinn Hawkins* (63; 100%), DT Milton Williams* (49; 78%), ED Harold Landry III* (48; 76%), DT Christian Barmore* (47; 75%), ED K’Lavon Chaisson* (44; 70%), LB Christian Elliss* (44; 70%), CB Marcus Jones (40; 63%), ED Keion White (29; 46%), DT Khyiris Tonga (27; 43%), DT Joshua Farmer (13; 21%), LB Jack Gibbens (8; 13%), S Dell Pettus (8; 13%), DT Cory Durden (7; 11%), S Kyle Dugger* (7; 11%), ED Elijah Ponder (5; 8%), CB D.J. James (2; 3%)
*denotes starter
Besides the aforementioned Milton Williams, the Patriots also relied heavily on Christian Barmore along their interior defensive line. His 75-percent playing time share is among the highest in his career, and the first time since the 2023 season he operated in such spheres. Given that Barmore was on a snap count for much of the summer, this is a promising development in his continued efforts to close the book on the blood clots that cost him almost his entire 2024 season.
Elsewhere up front, Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson were the top two on the edge. Keion White, on the other hand, played a comparatively small role and for the first time since his 2023 rookie season found himself on the field for less than half of defensive snaps.
The linebacker and cornerback groups, in the meantime, looked as expected with CB1 Christian Gonzalez still out with his nagging hamstring injury. Gonzalez was effectively replaced 1-for-1 by Alex Austin; it will be interesting to see how Austin’s role will change once the All-Pro returns, and whether said change will also impact fellow cornerbacks Marcus Jones and D.J. James.
At safety, the Patriots used Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson on 100 percent of the snaps. The few times they went to three-safety looks, they added Kyle Dugger — who started the game but played only seven snaps, the lowest since his rookie season — as well as sophomore Dell Pettus.
Special Teams
Total snaps: 29 | Time on the field: 2:35
S Brenden Schooler (25; 86%), LB Jack Gibbens (25; 86%), LB Marte Mapu (20; 69%), CB Corey Ballentine (20; 69%), ED Elijah Ponder (19; 66%), S Dell Pettus (19; 66%), ED K’Lavon Chaisson (17; 59%), LB Christian Elliss (15; 52%), LB Mark Robinson (14; 48%), LS Julian Ashby (10; 34%), FB Jack Westover (10; 34%), P/H Bryce Baringer (10; 34%), WR Mack Hollins (10; 34%), S Craig Woodson (9; 31%), S Kyle Dugger (9; 31%), ED Keion White (9; 31%), K Andy Borregales (8; 28%), LB Robert Spillane (6; 21%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (6; 21%), RB/KR TreVeyon Henderson (5; 17%), CB D.J. James (5; 17%), DT Christian Barmore (5; 17%), RB/KR Antonio Gibson (5; 17%), DT Milton Williams (5; 17%), CB/PR Marcus Jones (5; 17%), OT Will Campbell (4; 14%), OL Jared Wilson (4; 14%), OT Vederian Lowe (4; 14%), OL Mike Onwenu (4; 14%), TE Austin Hooper (4; 14%), OT Marcus Bryant (4; 14%), OL Ben Brown (4; 14%)
New England’s season opener allowed for a first look at who the team currently views as its core special teamers. Team captain Brenden Schooler unsurprisingly led the charge, seeing action on all four of the return and coverage squads. In that capacity, he was joined by Marte Mapu, Jack Gibbens and undrafted rookie Elijah Ponder.
Besides playing on four units, Mapu also was the personal protector for all six of Bryce Baringer’s punts. The other specialized roles were held by kickoff returners Antonio Gibson and TreVeyon Henderson as well as punt returner Marcus Jones. The open gunner spot opposite Schooler, meanwhile, was filled by practice squad call-up Corey Ballentine.
Did not play
QB Joshua Dobbs
The Patriots used the entirety of their active game day roster, with one exception. Backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs remained on the bench throughout the day; even though the Patriots found themselves in a two-score hole with 6:46 to go, he did not enter the game.
Inactive
CB Christian Gonzalez, QB3 Tommy DeVito, CB Charles Woods, ED Anfernee Jennings, DT Eric Gregory, OL Caedan Wallace, WR Efton Chism III
Having already ruled out cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Charles Woods due to respective hamstring and groin injuries leading up to the game, they also made five other players inactive. None of them came as particular surprises given the way the depth chart developed over the course of training camp.
