Defensive player identified as the Eagles’ ‘hidden gem’ ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

Defensive tackle Milton Williams is entering his fourth season with the Eagles and was recently named Philadelphia’s “best-kept secret” for the 2024 NFL season by Bleacher Report.

Williams started 10 games on the defensive line last season, recording 42 total tackles and a forced fumble. He is expected to continue as a starter in 2024, potentially having a breakout season.

Bleacher Report commented on Williams:

“It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle on the Eagles’ defensive line as that’s been one of the deepest position groups in the NFL over the last several years. So, while Williams might be unheralded, he certainly isn’t under-appreciated.

“The 25-year-old has been a quality run defender, racking up 18 TFL in three seasons. And while he only registered half a sack last year, he had six with just two starts in the two years prior. . . This year could be Williams’ time to shine after Philadelphia lost some defensive linemen in the offseason, including Fletcher Cox.”

Williams has steadily developed since being drafted in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. Starting just two games in his first two seasons, he has worked diligently to become the player the Eagles envisioned.

Overcoming adversity is nothing new for Williams, who said last September, “My whole life I always had to take the hard route and never had anything handed to me. Never anybody gave me any head start or anything. I always had to go the hard route to get what I wanted. This ain’t nothing different.”

Despite starting 10 games last season, Williams was on the field for only 46 percent of all defensive snaps for the Eagles in 2023. Expect that number to increase in 2024.