Defensive player named as Eagles' 'best-kept secret' heading into 2024 NFL season

Defensive tackle Milton Williams is heading into his fourth season with the Eagles, and he was recently listed by Bleacher Report as Philadelphia's "best-kept secret" heading into the 2024 NFL season.

Williams started 10 games on the D-line for Philly last season, and he recorded 42 total tackles and a forced fumble. He's projected to continue on as a starter for the Eagles in 2024, and he could be in line for a breakout campaign as a result.

Here's what B/R had to say about 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 continues to make a name for himself

The Eagles drafted Williams in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He started just two total games during his first two seasons in the league, but he continued to work on his craft and he's slowly developed into the type of player that the Eagles hoped he would become.

Earning his spot is nothing new for Williams, who prides himself on overcoming adversity.

“My whole life I always had to take the hard route and never had anything handed to me,” Williams said last September. “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 still on the field for just 46 percent of all available defensive snaps for Philadelphia in 2023. Expect that number to jump up in 2024.