New England Patriots - NESN.com
Undrafted rookie wideout Efton Chism is already turning heads in New England Patriots camp — and not just for his production.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye joked it felt like Chism hauled in “50 passes” during spring workouts, after the 5-foot-10 Eastern Washington product caught all seven of his targets in a standout OTA session. Chism has earned first-team looks with his attention to detail and his grasp of the playbook, which has historically been a challenge for newcomers, as noted by the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.
“He’s studied extremely hard,” head coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday. “I think the biggest thing for receivers is that there’s trust from the guy that throws the football… That’s a good indicator.”
That trust has already begun to build. Chism was a favorite target not only for Maye, but for Joshua Dobbs and fellow undrafted rookie Ben Wooldridge. And with his background in both punt and kick returns, Chism could add special teams value while competing for one of the final receiver spots behind Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams.
Despite going undrafted, Chism arrives with a résumé that includes FCS All-American honors and over 3,800 career receiving yards. While he clocked a modest 4.72 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day, Chism’s 6.77-second three-cone drill reflects the short-area quickness often seen in Patriots slot mainstays.
This summer, Chism plans to study tape of Julian Edelman, Wes Welker, Troy Brown and Danny Amendola — all of whom thrived in the same system he is now learning.
“Just grinding it,” Chism said. “Up early, here late… doing everything I can to get that extra step.”
