Mike Vrabel had a lot on his plate coming into the Patriots as the head coach to succeed Jerod Mayo, and so far, he has delivered on the promises he made from the beginning. The roster has massively improved from free agency and the draft, which has propelled the Patriots into the conversation of sneaky playoff contenders, and Drake Maye continues to receive rave reviews for what should be an impressive second-year jump.
A big reason for that, besides Vrabel's influence and the return of offensive guru Josh McDaniels, is who the quarterback will have to work with on offense this fall. Some names have received the most discussion regarding their potential in Foxboro, but one rookie, in particular, has generated the most hype since being signed as an undrafted free agent: WR Efton Chism III.
Aside from his notable speed and standout college career, Chism has already made headlines for being immediately inserted with the starters during the Patriots' OTAs over the last few weeks. He has blended in as if he's not a rookie, and that continued during Monday's practice.
It's another exciting development for the Patriots team, as they aim to regain respect around the league and compete once again as soon as the upcoming season.
It's especially thrilling for the offense, as Drake Maye had little to work with throughout his rookie season, yet still impressed beyond expectations. Now he might have a secret weapon on his side that could put the team over the top.
Efton Chism III could become a big part of the Patriots offense this season
After seemingly winning the competition to sign him after the draft ended, Mike Vrabel appears to have hit the jackpot in signing Chism. It might be too early in the offseason to suggest such a thing, especially since we haven't seen him take the field yet.
However, the fact that he continues to be the talk of the team and is already working with the starters implies that he's not just impressing onlookers but is proving to be a valuable addition to the offense and the coaching staff.
He's also making a good impression with the veterans, as seen during Monday's practice, when Stefon Diggs acknowledged Chism's work during some drills.
The wide receiver room is going to be a very competitive group this offseason, with 12 players currently signed to the roster. There are a few players who are presumed to be roster locks, including Stefon Diggs and Kyle Williams. However, there's an argument to be made that they're the only ones, creating a massive opportunity for someone like Chism to secure a spot early.
Given his skill set, he could easily be another slot addition to the receiving corps and be used in a secret weapon kind of role. He has the potential to be overlooked by defenders, due to his size and inexperience, but he's already proving that would be a mistake with his standout performances at practice thus far.
Seeing if he can maintain this level of production moving forward will ultimately dictate whether he is signed to the 2025 roster or designated to the practice squad. That is often the case for players in his position, especially those who shine early in the offseason. The hope is that he can continue thriving as the practices continue throughout the summer and become a reliable weapon for Maye on game day.