Perfect Eagles draft steal confirmed to slip through their hands during offseason

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has been a calculated genius when it comes down to the NFL Draft.

After years of selecting busts like Jalen Reagor, J. J. Arcega-Whiteside, and Sidney Jones, Roseman has perfected the art of finding a steal in the NFL Draft. One of his best picks in the last five years, defensive tackle Milton Williams, is gaining attention as the best steal of the 2021 NFL Draft.

The former third-round pick was included in Bleacher Report writer Damian Parson's biggest steals from the 2021 draft. Williams proved that even at defensive tackle, he can get pressure on the quarterback.

"The third-round pick served as a rotational pass-rusher with the Philadelphia Eagles to begin his NFL career. Williams started two games as a rookie and zero games the following season. He didn’t become a consistent presence until 2023, when he went from playing 36 percent of the snaps the prior season to 46 percent.

Although Williams began to start more games and saw an uptick in playing time, his role was clear: get after the quarterback.

Williams became a catalyst for the Eagles' merciless pass rush. He accounted for 59 total pressures and 5.5 sacks over the last two seasons, culminating in a convincing defeat of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX."

Did the Eagles make a mistake letting Williams walk in free agency?

As stellar a selection as that was from Roseman, the only problem is that Williams spent four years in Philadelphia and is no longer here. After racking up a career-high 10 quarterback hits and five sacks with the Eagles in 2024, Williams got paid as he inked a massive four-year, $104 million deal with the New England Patriots in the offseason.

The discussion was that it was too expensive for Roseman to re-sign the defensive tackle. Roseman's explanation for trading safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was due to financial reasons, so it most likely applied to Williams as well.

Philadelphia is preparing to invest a significant amount of money over the next two to three years in defensive players such as Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Reed Blankenship. Saving money was part of the offseason plan set by Roseman.

There is debate as to whether Williams was worth the investment, or if the Eagles should have brought him back. The immediate reaction is that over $100 million is too much, but depending on how his career goes in New England, it could end up being a fatal mistake for a defense that can't afford to take a step back in 2025.