With the Patriots' final preseason game of the offseason coming up this week and roster cuts looming, there are a lot of questions surrounding the team that will need to be answered in a short period of time. Among the most prominent is who will make up their receiving corps, as 11 players are still signed and competing for a spot on the final 53.
The assumption, at this point, is that just four players are likely locks: Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams. All have shined at different points this summer, with Hollins finally dominating the spotlight this past week against the Vikings.
That leaves the final potential two spots up for grabs, with a couple of players who appear the most likely to steal those positions, one of whom continues to be rookie UDFA Efton Chism III.
Although he reportedly won't be practicing this week, comments made by GM Eliot Wolf seem to indicate his future is bright in New England.
The Patriots' receiving corps might already be determined ahead of their preseason finale
While speaking to reporters on Monday morning before practice, Wolf couldn't help but gush about how great Chism has been for the Patriots since they signed him earlier this spring.
He raved about the kind of player he was in college, and the receiver has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt how impactful he can be for the team's offense when given the opportunity.
Eliot Wolf shines some light on WR Efton Chism:
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) August 18, 2025
“He’s a guy who went to 2 All-Star Games…No one really guarded him at either. That’s when he came on my radar…Definitely thought he was a draftable talent…Maybe didn’t have the 40-yard dash that was applicable to get him… pic.twitter.com/5kSyIexAfH
From what Chism has shown on the practice field and, maybe even more importantly, during the two preseason games so far, has been exactly the kind of explosiveness the Patriots' wide receiver room needs.
He has already been compared to some franchise greats like Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman, and could certainly get to their level someday. With Josh McDaniels calling the offense and Chism's ability to learn and grow week to week, the sky appears to be the limit for what he could do.
It seems fair to believe that Wolf's excitement about Chism implies that he has already made the roster, and that would explain why they might feel more comfortable with keeping him out of practice this week, as well as the preseason game.
If that weren't the case, it seems unlikely he would be sidelined not long before roster cuts are due to take place. So it looks like the Patriots will be adding another UDFA to their roster and continuing a long-time pattern of turning those overlooked players into stars on their team.