For two decades the Patriots have had trouble drafting and developing wide receivers. Can Kyle Williams change all that?

In New England, the weight of expectation can occasionally take a heavy toll on rookie wide receivers.

For the better part of two decades, the Patriots have struggled to find success drafting wideouts. They’ve had some hits u2015 Deion Branch, Julian Edelman, and Malcolm Mitchell. But the memories of the misses are cemented in the minds of critics. For myriad reasons, personnel missteps have defined the franchise’s strange inability to draft and develop the position.

Now, into the conversation steps Kyle Williams, a third-round pick out of Washington State who’s been celebrated by many former wide receivers, including the legendary Steve Smith, who calls Williams the second coming of No.