Going into the Senior Bowl, Kyle Williams had generated little buzz. In fact, what you heard most about the fifth-year senior is that he had a long way to go as a route runner, and as such, that limited his ceiling as a player.
But that was the public sentiment. Privately, Williams had a lot of fans in league scouting circles, front offices, and coaching staffs. One of those believers was Patriots wide receiver coach Todd Downing, who is happy no one pressed him for his feelings on the Washington State standout.
"If you had asked me, I would have had to hide my enthusiasm," Downing told us earlier this week. "I'm a big fan of Kyle's, and it's been great to have him here. He's working his tail off, and like any rookie, there's going to be some ups and downs along the road. But, you know, he's working his tail off, and he's fun to have around."
The Patriots used one of their 30 visits for Williams, curious to learn more about a player who definitively proved he belonged with the rest of the pass-catching crew in Mobile, Alabama, that included Iowa State WRs Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, TCUs Jack Bech, Isaac TeSlaa of Arkansas, Utah State's Jalen Royals and Eric Ayomanor from Stanford.
"That's where we kind of built the connection," said Downing of the visit. "Kind of found out how he learns and how he processes new information. We spent some time together in the meeting room and got to eat a meal together. And, you know, really kind of break down more than just a quick Zoom with the draft prospect. And he's one of those guys that has an infectious energy to him. Obviously, on the tape, there's plenty of like, you know, physical attributes, things that, you know, I think will benefit him in this system. But, you know, just a great kid to add to the group."
Williams is learning a far more complicated system than any he had to absorb during his college tenure (he spent the first three years of college at UNLV). He's had a couple of moments thus far in OTAs, including the play of the day in week two when he got vertical, stacked the corner and reeled in a deep ball from Josh Dobbs. But there's still a long way to go before crowning him as a rare draft hit from this team at that position.
"Every rookie is going to have a little ebb and flow," noted Downing. "You know, as you put some new install in, maybe it slows down your play speed a little bit. You('ve) got to make a new mistake and, that's a key with Kyle right now - he hasn't been an error repeater. He might mess something up, but he comes back, fixes it, and works hard to move on to the next mistake. I think that's going to be part of his process the whole way through. Really pleased with the work ethic he's shown, and I expect him to continue to develop and ascend."
In a perfect world, Williams will become the team's full-time 'X' receiver, enabling Stefon Diggs to work more from the slot, where he thrived last year in Houston. If that 4.4-speed plays outside - it did in college - he will give Maye someone who can chew up cushions on the outside and re-introduce the deep comeback into the Pats' arsenal, never mind the potential home run ball.
"I feel like at this position, it's a craft. It's an art, and you've got to take pride in your art," said Williams during rookie mini-camp (we haven't been given the chance to speak with him since). "Just being able to have those little details is what's going to turn you from great to elite, and I'm trying to be elite."
There's nothing wrong with aiming high, but Williams will have to prove that this new era of Patriots football also includes making the correct evaluations at wide receiver.
CENTERPIECE WALKS AWAY
The Detroit Lions' offseason has been marked by change. The team lost both of their coordinators to head coaching jobs, and an additional half-dozen position coaches left to join either Aaron Glenn with the Jets or Ben Johnson with the Bears.
That said, GM Brad Holmes did a nice job keeping that A+ roster together, with the only significant losses CB Carlton Davis, who was promptly replaced by D.J. Reed, and 35-year-old guard Kevin Zeitler. However, earlier this week, the Lions were dealt a significant blow six weeks or so before the start of training camp.
Frank Ragnow, the heart and soul of that excellent offensive line, announced his retirement via Instagram. Reading it, you could sense how hard the center wrestled with the decision.
"These past couple of months have been very trying as I've come to the realization that my football journey is ending and I'm officially retiring from the NFL," he wrote. "I've tried to convince myself that I'm feeling good but I'm not and it's time to prioritize my health and my families future. I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don't. I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. The Lions organization has been absolutely incredible throughout this process and I can't emphasize this enough how grateful I am for this team and all the fans. It was an absolute honor going to battle for you all."
Ragnow was a 2018 first-round pick out of Arkansas (a player the Patriots coveted in that draft) and was a three-time All-Pro over his seven seasons, including a second-team selection this past year. However, a litany of injuries proved to be incredibly challenging (pec, knee, groin, ankle, foot and throat), and although Ragnow played through many of them, you understand why he decided now was the right time to step away. Hell, Holmes was talking about it after the 2023-24 season.
“Ragnow, it’s only one of them on the planet, in my opinion,” he said. “But I have so much respect for him and for everything that he goes through and fights through that I’m just respectful of his time and his thoughts. And we’re not going to pressure him to do anything or make any moves. But the communication will be diligent. It’ll be thorough. It’ll be respectful.”
Ragnow had stayed away from OTAs this spring, giving more reps to his backup, interior swingman Graham Glasgow. The Lions also have given 2025 second-rounder Tate Ratledge - a guard at Georgia - work at the position as well. Ratledge has a high floor, but as Holmes stated, there's only one Frank Ragnow. Those cleats might be too big for either Glasgow or Ratledge to fill.
SMART TRADE
A couple years ago, Bryce Huff was one of the most productive pass rushers in football. The Eagles swooped in quickly, inking Huff to a three-year, $51.1 million deal in free agency. That should have been the start of an excellent relationship. Instead, it never took off. Huff quickly ended up on the wrong side of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, and between that and wrist surgery (he missed five games), found himself buried on the depth chart. The Eagles won a Super Bowl without Huff making an impact, and you knew he wouldn't be a part of this year's team.
Credit the 49ers for acquiring the distressed asset, surrendering only a 5th-round pick for Huff (and getting the Eagles to pick up some of his money). The deal reunites him with his former head coach with the Jets, Robert Saleh, who, of course, has returned to San Francisco for a second stint there as defensive coordinator.
San Francisco envisions Huff screaming off the edge opposite Nick Bosa. Assuming he returns to form, that will allow the Niners to move Giardi-fave, first-rounder Mykel Williams, inside on obvious passing downs. For a defense that struggled mightily last year - they were 29th in points allowed and 26th in opposing QBR - that's a significant talent upgrade as the 49ers look to retool and not rebuild.
"He uses his speed to speed people up and just win one-on-one on the edge, which is something we're always looking for," said well-respected SF DL coach Kris Kocurek. "The ability to affect the quarterback from the edge position, win one-on-one. He has multiple ways of doing it. The speed has always shown up. The ability to get off and close space on tackles really quick, make air disappear and win on the edge.
"With his built-in leverage in his body, he can convert speed to power. When tackles overcompensate and overset on him, he can get them across their face as well. Just a combination of the three things - his get-off jumps off the tape, especially when he has his hand down in the ground. And the ability to win one on one win passing situations."
San Fran has had success with reclamation projects along the defensive line, and here's betting they'll hit again with Huff.
DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS
Zach Tom is one of the best offensive linemen no one talks about. He's the Packers' right tackle and is in line for a lucrative contract extension. There have been ongoing talks, but the two sides aren't near the finish line. Yet Tom has shown up for all the OTAs, even if there's risk involved. Why?
“I don’t really think it’ll do me any good to sit out,” he said. “I’m trying not to worry about the contract situation. I’m just trying to do what’s best for the team. And being here with the guys, I think that’s worth a lot more … the contract situation will take care of itself. So I’m just here working and grinding with the guys. If I wasn’t here, I’d probably be somewhere just not doing anything."
It's that type of attitude that has endeared him to teammates and head coach Matt LaFleur.
“That tells you how much it means to him,” said LaFleur. “That means a lot. I know for me, it means a lot to me.”
Tom is sacrificing some of his leverage by showing up, which is something his teammate, Elgton Jenkins, is unwilling to do. Another foundational piece for that offensive line, Jenkins is being asked to move from guard to center as he heads into the second-to-last year of his contract (although with no more guarantees remaining). Jenkins has chosen to stay away, expressing a desire for the team to rework his deal to give him some more financial security.
Jenkins's rationale is that he's willing to do what's best for the team, but in doing so, he's moving from a higher-paid position to the bottom rung of the OL food chain (as far as starters go). I see his point. There's almost zero chance the Packers pay him $24-plus million next season, especially when releasing him could save the team $20 million against the cap. So, Jenkins wisely sees this as a one-and-done scenario and wants Green Bay to give him a little something for the effort.
"We had plenty of conversations with Elgton leading up to it, and obviously, he played center in college," Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said earlier this offseason. "We feel he's got a chance to be an All-Pro center. We've talked about it a lot, how versatility plays into our offensive line and having guys that can move to different spots. And Elgton's one of those guys who can play all five spots, so he's a luxury. I'm excited to see what he can do at center, as well."
My guess is that Gutekunst will guarantee some of the remaining $32 million on Jenkins' current deal, providing the player with some insurance if this experiment fails or he suffers an injury. That would be smart business for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
