Mike Vrabel made it clear that he wanted to become the Patriots' next head coach, despite the mess that he would be walking into after another disastrous season in Foxboro. It put a lot of pressure on the longtime Titans coach to get the team back on track, and it would be fair to claim the new regime has accomplished that heading into the 2025 season.
A defensive-heavy free agency led to an offense-prioritized draft, which also allowed for the late-round selections of crucial special teams players. Several have already stood out through just OTAs and rookie mini camp, with one UDFA consistently stealing the spotlight from the rest: wide receiver Efton Chism III.
From his impressive speed and quickness of grasping the Patriots' offense to constantly working with the expected starting roster, the 23-year-old has made a name for himself in New England rather quickly. Many have deemed him an automatic roster lock regardless of how early it is in the offseason, and that's now presumably being backed up by someone close to the team.
Don’t be surprised if this UDFA is already penciled in on Patriots’ final roster
While discussing OTAs last week, Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard shared an interesting comment a Patriots representative said to him about Chism.
Because he has become a star of the offseason, it has caught the attention of analysts and fans in New England, as it could mean that the rookie UDFA has already secured a spot on the roster, despite not having even attended training camp yet.
"I think I've used the phrase, 'It's going to be hard to keep [Chism] off the roster'. I actually heard that exact phrasing from somebody the other day after practice, somebody with the Patriots. Look, the guy gets open really well quickly, and he catches the ball. There was one stretch, I think it was four passes out of like six that he caught in the practice at the point where I looked over at [NBC Sports Boston's] Phil Perry, and I was like, 'Phil, are they going to throw to anybody else in this practice?'"
The fact that it's only June and a player who wasn't even drafted might have impressed enough of the right people already to lock up a spot on this season's roster is almost difficult to fathom. Maybe the rep is getting ahead of themselves, but considering the amount of hype Chism has received in recent weeks, it wouldn't be shocking if there is a lot more truth behind his statement than not.
It puts a lot of pressure on the rookie to deliver over the next few months, and it will be fascinating to see if he can meet the challenge. The Patriots need all the help they can get on offense, so if he can be another weapon for Drake Maye to work with, it adds another exciting element to an already standout offseason.
It also highlights the competition amongst the wide receivers for a spot on the 2025 roster. There are 12 receivers currently signed, with only a few deemed untouchable: Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams. The rest will have to compete for the final three to four spots, and it seems like Chism's odds continue to increase.