‘He’s gonna punch you in the mouth’ — All-Pro WR sees himself in Patriots draft pick

Kyle Williams has the potential to be a big-time playmaker for the Patriots, and one All-Pro wide receiver sees a lot of himself in the Washington State product.

Steve Smith, speaking on his “89″ YouTube channel, explained why Williams reminds him of himself when Smith was playing in the NFL.

“He reminds me of (my) demeanor. He’s gonna punch you in the mouth,” he said. “He’s gonna look at you. So I really like this kid. I really like him.”

Smith went on to say that not only does Williams have “smooth hands,” he also has good releases and “attacks the ball like he’s a dog.”

“Strong at the catch point, really, like the kid — explosive with the ball in his hands,“ Smith said. ”The only thing is he lacks detail in his route running.” 

Williams was drafted by the Patriots in the third round with the 69th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He ran a 4.40 second 40-yard dash and was a good fit for New England — especially with a need for help in its wideout room. Williams has drawn plenty of positive reviews from draft experts and those around the NFL.

And Smith clearly is high on the 22-year-old.

“I’m just saying, the guys that remind me of myself,” Smith said. “That skill set is explosive. He’s dynamic with the football in his hands.”

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