After the Patriots completed what was an excellent draft, they immediately turned to the undrafted free agent market, where they signed 19 players to join them in minicamp and training camp leading up to the season as they compete for a roster spot.
One of the players New England wants to have a closer look at is wide receiver Efton Chism III out of Eastern Washington, who is a dynamic playmaker that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels searches to have in his offense for it to be successful.
In 2024, Chism (5’11”, 200 lbs.) produced one of the best statistical seasons for a wide receiver, but he didn’t hear his name get called during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Last season, Chism finished with 120 receptions for 1,311 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. This ranks as the top receiver in the FCS and would be one of the best in the FBS as well.
Chism has been a major producer throughout his five-year career with Eastern Washington, totaling 346 receptions, 3,852 yards, and 37 touchdowns in 53 games.
Although he had a big season, Chism put his name on the map at the Hula Bowl and the East-West Shrine Bowl. He showed off his speed with long strides, quickness in and out of his breaks and cuts, and his awareness with the way he controls his body to elude defenders.
Leading up to the Shrine Bowl, the wide receivers and defensive backs went 1 vs 1 against each other. On Day 2, Chism went to work against three different defensive backs, running different routes to show his abilities as a receiver.
In the first video below, you’ll see Chism come off the line of scrimmage straight upfield for two steps before taking a slight break towards the inside with his right plant-foot and then changing direction on a dime, breaking left with a strong and wide plant-foot. He completely turns the defensive back around, which forces the defender to grab Chism’s jersey, and the official sees it.
It looks like Chism stumbles out of his break, but he doesn’t; it’s a result of the defender being confused and essentially getting beaten.
In the second video, Chism started well off the line of scrimmage; it even looks like he had the defenders’ hips turned the other way, but he stumbled out of his route break and wasn’t able to get away from the defender. He still made a great attempt at finishing the route and making a catch, but he was never able to beat the defender after his first stumble.
In the third video, Chism showed off his agility and quickness with great footwork at the line of scrimmage with a double-move route that completely beat the defensive back.
At the Shrine Bowl, Chism caught all four of his targets for 43 yards. His biggest play of the game came off a five-yard slant route while working out of the slot, which he picked up a gain of 20 yards on.
It was Chism’s footwork off the line of scrimmage that froze the cornerback while he was focused on the quarterback. Chism made his break right at the right moment in an open space and quickly turned up field.
Although Chism has the build of a slot receiver, he has the qualities of an X. This gives him versatility within the offense as he can be lined up anywhere with the way he runs his routes to get into the open space. It’s a unique skill that not every receiver is capable of doing, and that’s why many of them can’t last in the NFL.
Chism has long strides and breakaway speed when he’s in open space that can’t be measured with a 40-Yard-Dash, which he clocked at 4.71 seconds, and it could've attributed to why he went undrafted.
What Can Efton Chism III Bring to NE as He Competes for a Spot?
After the Draft, the Patriots have 13 wide receivers on their roster heading into camp, and five of them are under six feet, which suits them to be a slot receiver. And although DeMario Douglas is poised to be the starting slot receiver, it seems like the jury might still be out on him.
That said, it’s worth mentioning that Douglas hasn’t worked with McDaniels yet, but he’ll likely still have an understanding of what McDaniels is looking for out of the slot receiver due to his experience in the system working with former wide receivers coach, whom the system was modeled after in Troy Brown.
In New England, the easy comparison to Chism is obviously Julian Edelman, but they’re just slightly different as runners. Chism has long strides after the catch and looks like a gazelle while picking up good chunks of yards with each catch. Edelman is fast and quick like a squirrel.
They also run their routes differently. Chism runs an eloquent route and is able to get open with his pure skills as a receiver. Edelman was a master tactician who literally honed his craft to become a receiver for the Patriots. I’m not downplaying Edelman, don’t misunderstand this, I just don’t want to make the easy comparison to connect him to the Patriots.
The player he reminds me of is Cooper Kupp, and although they went to the same school, so it seems like an easy comparison, Chism said that he tries to model his game after Kupp, and it’s evident on the field.
In the film, you can see him run hard and break his routes with strength and force. The long strides for yards after catch and to get behind the defense for a big play are also on the film. It’s honestly the long strides he runs with that make him look/play like a bigger receiver.
Chism is an inch taller than Edelman and three inches shorter than Kupp. His build puts him right in the middle of the two greatest dynamic slot receivers in recent NFL history.
The Patriots have been trying to rebuild their wide receiver group since 2019. They haven’t had much success in doing so, drafting eight wide receivers in the last seven years, with one being in the first round with N’Keal Harry.
This season, the Patriots signed two veteran free agents to upgrade the wide receiver room in Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, as they join an offense that is still up-and-rising while being led by a young quarterback. Although they’re both great additions, they’re both also going to be 32 years old this season.
New England also drafted a wide receiver in the third round of the NFL Draft, Kyle Williams, who is the best separator and one of the best route runners in his class. Williams is 5’11”, 190 lbs, and fits the mold of a versatile receiver in a McDaniels offense.
That said, New England really needs to retool and prepare for the future when it comes to their wide receivers. Chism offers everything that McDaniels wants in a receiver. And there’s a world where both Douglas and Chism could be on the field together and not take away from each other, similarly to the days of Edelman with Danny Amendola. The same can be said for Williams.
No matter what happens, this is a great opportunity for Chism to showcase himself on an NFL field and prove himself.
I believe he will make the Patriots roster for McDaniels.