Latest news with #Chism
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Patriots rep admits it'll be hard keeping standout rookie UDFA off roster
Patriots rep admits it'll be hard keeping standout rookie UDFA off roster New England Patriots undrafted rookie Efton Chism III is making the sort of waves no one expected this early in the offseason work. Training camp hasn't even started, and it is already obvious that the former Eastern Washington standout is going to be hard to keep off the final roster. Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard believes it's time to start taking Chism seriously after watching him rack up receptions in competitive 11-on-11s during organized team activities (OTAs). There are currently 12 receivers on the Patriots' roster. Even if that number is cut in half after training camp, it's hard to see Chism failing to make the team. "I think I've used the phrase, 'It's going to be hard to keep [Chism] off the roster'. I actually heard that exact phrasing from somebody the other day after practice, somebody with the Patriots," Bedard said on the Greg Bedard Patriots Podcast. "Look, the guy gets open really well quickly, and he catches the ball. There was one stretch, I think it was four passes out of like six that he caught in the practice at the point where I looked over at [NBC Sports Boston's] Phil Perry, and I was like, 'Phil, are they going to throw to anybody else in this practice?'" Chism had seven receptions on seven targets at Monday's open OTAs practice. There are many similarities in his style of play to former Patriots greats, like Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. He's scrappy in the slot with quick feet and a knack for peeling away from defenders, getting open and catching the ball. His ability to separate consistently stands out immediately in an offense that lacked true separators last season. It's only the month of June, and the Chism hype train is full steam ahead for mandatory minicamp and training camp. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Patriots under-the-radar rookie WR gets Julian Edelman comparison
Patriots under-the-radar rookie WR gets Julian Edelman comparison New England Patriots undrafted rookie wide receiver Efton Chism III turned heads on the football field at Tuesday's open OTAs practice. Chism is an under-the-radar player who fits the mold as a Josh McDaniels-type receiver. He's scrappy in the slot with quick footwork and sudden change of direction to consistently find separation. "The guy who stood out to me today was Efton Chism, and it wasn't because he had this amazing connection with Drake Maye," NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry told Tom Curran on "Patriots Talk Podcast". "I don't think Drake Maye threw him a pass in competitive periods. He looked really quick to me. This is the undrafted rookie out of Eastern Washington. He decelerates at a very rapid rate. He'll be running a crosser, catch it and stop on a dime and create separation for himself in that kind of way." Curran then responded by calling Chism's stop-and-go play a Julian Edelman kind of move. It's easy to see how a player like Chism could fly under the radar considering the Patriots currently have 12 receivers on their roster. However, it might not take people long to get on board with the idea that the former Eastern Washington standout is a serious contender for a roster spot. Chism's three-year rookie deal with New England includes $234,000 in guaranteed base salary. As ESPN's Mike Reiss noted, that's the richest deal of all of the Patriots' undrafted rookies, and it has more guarantees than any of the team's seventh-round draft picks. The Patriots handing out that kind of deal shouldn't be taken lightly. They obviously viewed Chism highly coming out of college. It's understandable considering that he has broken multiple records previously held by former All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp in college. He broke Kupp's single-season receptions record at Eastern Washington with 120 receptions last season, and he also broke the record for receptions in consecutive games (53) in the Big Sky and FCS conferences. Everyone loves a good underdog story, and Chism's could be the next to unfold in New England. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
USA Today
11-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Patriots reportedly beat out six teams to sign promising UDFA receiver
Patriots reportedly beat out six teams to sign promising UDFA receiver Efton Chism III is a name that hasn't received much national recognition, but that could all change once he gets an opportunity to prove himself on an NFL football field. The New England Patriots reportedly outbid six other teams to sign the undrafted rookie out of Eastern Washington to a lucrative three-year rookie deal that included $235,000 in guaranteed base salary and a $25,000 signing bonus. Chism broke former NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp's FCS receptions record last season by hauling in a catch in 53 straight games. He finished his run with the Eagles last season with 346 receptions for 3,852 yards and 37 touchdowns. According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, six teams devoted one of their allotted top-30 visits to Chism. While the Patriots weren't one of those teams, coach Mike Vrabel did reach out to him personally with a phone call. That effort from Vrabel combined with the opportunity to play under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was enough to sway Chism to pick New England. Reiss wrote: "One reason for the lucrative deal is that the Patriots found themselves in a competitive bidding battle with other teams, which sources familiar with the discussions say included the Broncos as coach Sean Payton made a strong pitch to woo Chism to Denver (one of Chism's six predraft visits)." The Patriots' wide receivers room will be more competitive than it's been in years with the arrival of Chism, Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams and Mack Hollins. They will join the likes of Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte. That could lead to a surprisingly shorter rope for second-year hopefuls Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. It will truly be a sink-or-swim situation at training camp this summer. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Patriots UDFA contract revealed for WR that broke Cooper Kupp's record
Patriots UDFA contract revealed for WR that broke Cooper Kupp's record New England Patriots undrafted free agent signing Efton Chism III signed a $234,000 deal that includes a $25,000 signing bonus, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. Those are elevated numbers for an undrafted rookie, and it indicates that the Patriots likely had some competition when attempting to sign the Eastern Washington slot receiver. Chism had a tremendous senior season with the Eagles, hauling in 120 catches for 1,311 yards and 13 touchdowns. The 120 catches set a new school record and toppled the previous record set by former NFL Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp. Chism was named a First-Team FCS All-American for his efforts. Chism could be a player to watch as a potential surprise in training camp. The Patriots have gone through extensive efforts to ensure a more competitive wide receivers room. They signed four-time Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency, along with spending a third-round draft pick on Washington State standout Kyle Williams. Given the players that are already on the roster, including Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, it sets the stage for one of the most competitive training camp battles in recent memory. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
