Fletcher Cox is the veteran, a member of the NFL’s All-Decade team from the 2010s.
Jalen Carter is the fabulous rookie.
Jordan Davis is the former first-round pick who can blot the sun with his 6-6, 345-pound frame and could be fabulous in his second season.
Milton Williams, well, he could be Joe Blanton, the interloper to the Philadelphia Phillies pitching staff from a decade ago that had four aces in Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels, and Cliff Lee.
It’s easy to lose sight of Williams, the third-year Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle, with Cox, Carter, and Davis grabbing so much of the spotlight. To lose sight of him, though, would be at your own peril, especially if you are an offensive coordinator game-planning for the Eagles.
Williams got his season off to a strong start in New England, making four tackles and notching a quarterback hit in 33 defensive snaps.
Afterward, head coach Nick Sirianni said he thought the former third-round pick in 2021 played an excellent game. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai double-downed on Williams during his Tuesday news conference.
“Man, he was so physical,” said Desai. “I think you saw that in the game, striking people, knocking people back at the point of attack. That's a good edge and a toughness that he brings because he's so consistent with it.
“Then he can convert, too, when it's the play pass, and things like that, when he's in there. He adds a little bit of rush element to win on it. He falls right in line.”
Desai admitted that it is easy to sleep on Williams considering the star power around him.
“He does get lost, and he shouldn't, because he's a physical player that we really like,” said the coach.
As for Williams, he doesn’t get caught up in being the no-name fifth Beatle or Andrew Ridgeley, the lesser-known member of the band Wham with George Michael.
“I just come out here, do my job whenever my number is called,” he said prior to walkthrough practice as the Eagles prepare to play the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night in the home opener.
“I’m still here. They believe in me. That’s how it’s always been (flying under the radar). I always had to go the hard route to do what I want. This isn’t anything different.”
Williams had four sacks last year and owns six in his two seasons, so far.
“You get in between those lines, you have to flip the little switch and go to the dark side for a little while until that clock hits zero when I can go back to the regular Milton,” he said. “But on that field, you have to be in a different zone for sure.
"Regular Milton, I’m laid back, I don’t say much. Bad Milton I’m out there, I’m jawing a little bit, I’m going at guys and trying to just do my job and be productive.”
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