FOXBOROUGH – Kyle Williams has learned that when Stefon Diggs talks, he should listen.

This offseason, the Patriots third-round pick has paid close attention to how the veteran receiver approaches the game. He also listens closely. Williams revealed that Diggs is often talking to his receiver group and giving them pieces of advice – or as the rookie calls it, “gems.”

“He’s been a great guy. Honestly, a great mentor. Dropping a lot of gems,” Williams said. “He’s been in the league for what? A decade? That’s pretty long, so all the gems and the knowledge that he’s dropped on us has been very useful. Just a great dude and a great teammate overall.”

This season marks Year 11 for the 4-time Pro Bowler. Last year, Diggs was a captain in his only season in Houston, and since arriving in New England, he’s gone out of his way to help the team’s younger receivers.

A fifth-round pick in 2015, Diggs developed into one of the top receivers in the NFL. From 2018 to 2023, he had six straight 1,000-yard seasons. That streak ended last fall when he suffered a torn ACL.  Before the injury, Diggs was on pace to surpass the 1,000-yard mark once again.

Among the many ‘gems’ Diggs has given to Williams, the Patriots rookie receiver has a favorite.

“’Don’t confuse the results with the process,’” Williams said. “I think he tells me that every day, and our coach tells us that every day, so that one sticks with me a lot.”

Williams made his preseason debut last week. He didn’t catch a pass, but was open in the end zone only for Joshua Dobbs to miss him. The rookie said it was a dream come true to play inside Gillette Stadium.

“It was honestly a surreal feeling,” Williams said. “You dream about these moments. Practice is one thing, but you actually get to live out the game experience. I don’t take it for granted and I’m grateful for it, but now it’s time to rinse and repeat.”