The current Patriots roster is overflowing with talent in the wide receiver room, leaving them with plenty of options and some tough decisions to make when it’s time to make the final cut to assemble the 2025 team. Because there are only three players considered locks at this point (Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Williams), the remaining spots are up for grabs.
A few players have become the focus of training camp, highlighted during their first preseason game last week. Most of the hype continues to be behind undrafted free agent Efton Chism III, whose rise in recent weeks could sneak him onto this year’s roster and for very good reason.
He’s already established a rapport with quarterback Drake Maye, who has raved about the receiver’s effort and performance several times over the last few weeks, and that didn’t slow down when given the chance to take the field in a real game capacity against the Commanders last week.
While talking about Kyle Williams and TreVeyon Henderson, Drake Maye also praises Efton Chism pic.twitter.com/o5rt69sRvy
https://twitter.com/ByMarkDaniels/status/1932148782348521688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Chism led all receivers in the preseason opener, recording 6/8 receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. His explosive play with his impressive natural skillset as a slot receiver is right up Josh McDaniels’ alley and could easily earn him a spot on the roster for the upcoming season.
There is good reason to believe that the Patriots will keep WR Efton Chism for the 2025 season
The Patriots’ offense is set to look dramatically different from what it did last year, with Drake Maye being the ultimate beneficiary of all the upgrades. Not only is he going to have a clear No. 1 receiver in Stefon Diggs and maybe even DeMario Douglas, but he will also have a slew of other explosive receivers to work with, which could (and should) include Chism.
It seems like the quarterback is already on board with that, as he has consistently raved about the kind of player the UDFA has already proven himself to be. Chism is a constant standout at practice and works well with every quarterback he is put on the field with, which is particularly impressive given that he’s a rookie.
#Patriots QB Drake Maye on WR Efton Chism:
“He’s a baller… you saw it tonight. Making plays. He got in the end zone… Just blocking hard, doing all the right things… You keep doing things the right way and keep showing up, you’re gonna get rewarded.”
Chism 📈📈📈 pic.twitter.com/TTT1knmBAy
https://twitter.com/LosTalksPats/status/1954018151651586507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1954018151651586507%7Ctwgr%5E18455a09fa1d6884b03433b8305d3b9fa5d9c93b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmusketfire.com%2Fpatriots-rising-star-could-deliver-game-changing-results-after-preseason-flashes-01k2d4e9h6xf
Given the inevitable focus on assembling one of the best offensive rosters in several years, it’s difficult to envision why Chism wouldn’t make the team’s 2025 roster if he continues to perform as well on the practice field and in preseason games.
Besides showing just how good he can be for the Patriots, he exemplified that during his college career, further demonstrating just how impactful he could be for their offense this fall. During his final season at Eastern Washington, he recorded 120 receptions for 1,311 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Those are WR1 statistics, and although that won’t be the role he fills in New England, he can be a reliable secret weapon for McDaniels to unleash throughout the upcoming season. That’s exactly what Maye needs to elevate his performance in his second season, and it might be one of the biggest factors in why Chism makes the team.
