New England created flexibility in the four-year contract.

Roughly one hour into the NFL’s negotiating window on Monday, the New England Patriots looked set to lose out on one of their top free agent targets.

Defensive lineman Milton Williams appeared to be on his way to join the Carolina Panthers, until the Patriots circled back and upped their offer.

As a result, Williams inked a four-year, $104 million deal with New England that made him the highest-paid player in franchise history based off the contract’s average annual value of $26 million.

DL Milton Williams: Contract details

2025:

Base salary: $6,000,000
Signing bonus: $6,000,000
Roster bonus: $1,700,000
Workout bonus: $300,000
Salary cap hit: $14,000,000

2026:

Base salary: $21,000,000
Signing bonus: $6,000,000
Roster bonus: $1,700,000
Workout bonus: $300,000
Salary cap hit: $29,000,000

2027:

Base salary: $21,000,000
Signing bonus: $6,000,000
Roster bonus: $2,550,000
Workout bonus: $450,000
Salary cap hit: $30,000,000

2028:

Base salary: $22,000,000
Signing bonus: $6,000,000
Roster bonus: $2,550,000
Workout bonus: $450,000
Salary cap hit: $31,000,000

Included in the deal is a $24 million signing bonus and $51 million fully guaranteed at signing. Williams could also see an additional $12 million guaranteed for injury at signing, which becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2027 league year.

New England also took a unique approach when it came to Williams’ per-game roster bonuses.

Williams, who has only missed one game in his four-year career, will earn $100,000 per game for the first two years and $150,000 per game over the final two years of the deal — totaling a potential $8.5 million throughout the four years.

Williams can furthermore earn an additional $1.5 million during the length of the contract in workout bonuses.

With the $51 million fully guaranteed and bonuses, Williams can make up to $55 million over the first two years of his contract.

New England then has the ability take it year-to-year over the final two seasons of the deal with the defensive lineman — where a continued partnership or likely reworked agreement would mean the partnership has gone well.

For the 2025 season, Williams will count for 4.5 percent of the Patriots cap. His $14 million cap hit currently ranks fourth on the team, and 19th among all NFL interior linemen.

Both the total value and AAV of the deal rank third highest among all interior defenders in football (trailing just Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins).

New England will hope Williams can build off a career year and be worthy of that number after the Patriots ranked last in football in interior pressures during last season.