With their only third round pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Eagle draft Louisiana Tech DT Milton Williams. Of course this was not without some drama. We will get to that later.
The Philadelphia Eagles traded down from No. 70 to No. 73 in the third round, acquiring the No. 191 pick (sixth-round) from the Carolina Panthers. Williams is the second player from Louisiana Tech taken in franchise history. Ryan Moats in 2005 was the first.
Milton Williams Power
In his first year of action with the Bulldogs, Williams played in seven games and made three tackles. He made a much larger impact in 2019 earning honorable mention All-Conference USA honors. In 13 starts he tallied up 59 tackles, nine for loss, 5.5 sacks. Williams became one of the best defenders in C-USA in 2020, receiving first-team all-conference accolades by leading Tech with 10 tackles for loss with 4.5 sacks among 44 total tackles in 10 starts. Williams generated a lot of hype at his pro day. He put up 34 reps on the bench press and ran his 40 in 4.63 seconds, his 20-yard shuttle in 4.33 seconds, and completed the three-cone drill in 6.96 seconds. Milton is a freak athlete and has the upper-body strength teams covet.
Versatility is always the name of the game. Williams’ athletic frame and experience in the 3-4 in college allows him to flex out to defensive end. He won’t be limited to defensive tackle, providing depth at both positions.
- HEIGHT: 6′ 3″
- WEIGHT: 284 lbs.
- ARMS: 31 1/2″
- HANDS: 9 3/4″
Strengths
- A dense, muscular frame and no bad weight.
- Quick and powerful with above-average leverage.
- Absorbs contact and keeps eyes into the backfield.
- Works with quick-win twitch against single blocks.
- Plants his post leg and battles through the double-team.
- Core strength fuels his balance and keeps him on his feet.
Weaknesses
- Lack of length and mass could be a concern.
- Average first-step quickness up the field.
- Needs to keep his feet near the ground to keep from getting bounced.
He uses his hands really well, which makes his size less of a problem but some development will be need. Eagle’s third-round draft from Louisiana Tech DT Milton Williams can be really interesting for the future. For more draft coverage click here.
The Drama
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was shown fist-bumping everyone following the selection of defensive tackle Milton Williams. Owner Jeffrey Lurie and head coach Nick Sirianni seemed pleased enough, but when Roseman got to senior Eagles scout Tom Donahoe, Donahoe didn’t exactly reciprocate the good vibes on the dap. Donahoe seemed to let Roseman in on some unfortunate news, or a difference of opinion, causing Roseman to look incredulous.
Disagreements tend to happen on draft night, but Eagles brass has been the subject of several reports in recent months that painted a picture of dysfunction within the front office.
Al is one of the two co-creators of Edge of Philly Sports. Al started radio and podcasting in 2012 and covering sports in 2015. A lifelong Philly sports fan since watching the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers with his grandfathers at age 7. Al always looks at the other side of the hot topics and gives his different outlook on those topics. Web and Graphic Design.
