**Milton Williams Supercharges Free Agency Stock with Super Bowl Dominance, Emerges as Vikings’ Prime Target**
Milton Williams didn’t just cement his legacy with a Super Bowl LIX triumph—he turbocharged his value ahead of free agency. The Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive tackle, a logical target for the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, delivered a masterclass in pressure during Sunday’s 40-22 rout of the Chiefs, racking up two sacks on Patrick Mahomes. For a player often overshadowed by teammate Jalen Carter, the spotlight couldn’t have been brighter: Williams finished the season with PFF’s second-highest pass-rushing grade among defensive tackles, trailing only Chris Jones. His breakout performance on the grandest stage served as a potent audition tape for suitors.
**From Underrated to Unignorable**
Williams’ dominance peaked with two game-defining plays. Midway through the second quarter, he blew past All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, chasing down Mahomes for a momentum-shifting sack. Then, with the Eagles leading 37-6 in the fourth, he bulldozed through left guard Mike Caliendo, strip-sacking Mahomes and recovering the fumble himself—a sequence that encapsulated his rare blend of power and agility. For the Vikings, whose interior pass rush has languished since Kevin Williams’ prime, this tape is a siren call. Minnesota’s defense, anchored by elite edge rushers, has long lacked a disruptive force at three-technique, a gap glaringly exposed in recent seasons.
**The Price of Power**
Securing Williams won’t come cheap. While Spotrac projects a modest three-year, $36 million deal, his Super Bowl heroics and ascending trajectory (he turns 26 in April) could spike his value to $20 million annually. For the Vikings, the investment is justified: Williams’ athleticism and untapped upside offer a transformative fix for their defensive interior. Minnesota must also eye alternatives like Dallas’ Osa Odighizuwa or Seattle’s Jarran Reed, but Williams stands atop the wishlist. Settling for mid-tier options like Jihad Ward or Jerry Tillery—serviceable but unspectacular—would squander a pivotal offseason.
**Bottom Line**
The Vikings’ path to contention hinges on solving their decades-long interior pass-rush drought. Williams’ Super Bowl showcase proves he’s the answer—if Minnesota is willing to pay the premium.
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