Efton Chism is pretty fortunate in the context that he has plenty of veteran New England Patriots' receivers to look up to for guidance. The rookie wideout, who made the final roster as an undrafted free agent, shone in the preseason, and New England's wide receiver room features plenty of leadership in guys like Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, and Mack Hollins.
During the dog days of training camp, Chism formed a unique bond with one of them in Hollins, who came over as a free agent from the Buffalo Bills this offseason.
While that may be an unusual bond, Hollins is the blue-collar type of player that Chism can model his game after and look up to in the locker room. That is a trait that New England will need as it tries to improve on last season's 4-13 record.
Working with and learning from Mack Hollins will unlock Efton Chism's development
Hollins is a big target who will be a key factor to the Patriots' offense this season, and his 6-foot-4 inch frame will give Drake Maye a viable weapon in the red zone. He's an unheralded member of New England's free-agent class who could have a big year.
Enter Chism, who came into training camp with a chip on his shoulder after being signed as an undrafted free agent. He outworked veterans such as Kendrick Bourne in camp, and a strong performance in a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings all but sewed up Chism's spot on the roster.
Chism is the type of player - shifty, athletic, and hard-nosed - who can excel in a Josh McDaniels offense. The Patriots have seen it before with the likes of Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, and Danny Amendola.
Hollins, meanwhile, has been known to not wear shoes off the field because of durability benefits for his feet. While that's a bit unusual, prognosticators feel that Hollins will be one of the Patriots who has a solid year. His voice in the locker room will be huge for guys like Chism.
Efton Chism and Mack Hollins may not be household names in the NFL, but their connection in the Patriots' locker room could be a key factor in the team's success—and each other's—this season.