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Patriots undrafted rookie Efton Chism III attracts Kupp comparability

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  • Mike ReissMight 11, 2025, 06:00 AM ET

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      Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has coated the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Yr by the Nationwide Sports activities Media Affiliation.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Undrafted gem? The Patriots had a stretch of 19 straight years by which an undrafted free agent made their preliminary 53-man roster, which was damaged in 2023 earlier than it began once more final season with security Dell Pettus making the lower.

Such a historical past in New England sparks the query: Who is likely to be this 12 months’s underdog story?

Japanese Washington large receiver Efton Chism III is a prime candidate, based mostly on the depth by which he was pursued by a number of groups after the draft.

The 5-foot-10, 193-pound Chism is thought for, amongst different issues, breaking Cooper Kupp‘s FCS document with a catch in 53 straight video games. Following in Kupp’s footsteps at Japanese Washington, he excelled as an elusive slot possibility by totaling 346 receptions for 3,852 yards and 37 touchdowns, typically utilized as an extension of the working recreation by catching quick passes after which making defenders miss.

Six NFL groups devoted one in every of their 30 allotted visits to him main into the draft. The Patriots weren’t one in every of them, however coach Mike Vrabel personally calling Chism “made an affect on him,” as did offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ observe document of success with undersized receivers, based on a supply conversant in Chism’s decision-making course of.

Chism’s three-year contract contains $234,000 in assured base wage, together with a $25,000 signing bonus, based on sources who’ve seen the deal. It’s the richest deal among the many Patriots’ 16-member undrafted class and contains extra in ensures than the group’s seventh-round picks.

One cause for the profitable deal is that the Patriots discovered themselves in a aggressive bidding battle with different groups, which sources conversant in the discussions say included the Broncos as coach Sean Payton made a robust pitch to woo Chism to Denver (one in every of Chism’s six predraft visits).

However ultimately, the Monroe, Washington, native who stayed house to attend his dream faculty Japanese Washington elected to maneuver throughout the nation to chase his NFL dream, along with his agent Cameron Foster hammering out the cope with Patriots nationwide scout Tony Kinkela.

Naturally, the comparisons to Kupp (2017 third-round choose of the Rams) comply with Chism to the NFL.

“Everyone knows it isn’t the place you begin, it is the place you finish,” Japanese Washington coach Aaron Greatest advised ESPN. “Nobody knew about Cooper Kupp 10 years in the past, aside from [playing in] the Large Sky Convention. Now everyone is aware of about Cooper Kupp when he is a Tremendous Bowl champion and MVP of that recreation, and in addition a triple crown winner [leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and TDs in 2021].

“Efton just isn’t the most important. He isn’t the quickest. He isn’t the strongest. However I’ll say he is most dedicated — his Valentine is greater than most individuals. His care of his teammates is greater than most individuals. When you will have a chip in your shoulder, that is actual and also you carry it for all times. That is what he did in highschool to get to school. He wasn’t a extremely recruited child out of highschool. No FBS presents, very similar to Coop.

“It did not outline him,” Greatest mentioned. “It decided him. He simply wanted an opportunity. He acquired it right here at a college he liked and he thrived in each facet.”

To interrupt by in New England, the 23-year-old Chism might want to emerge from a crowded receiver room that features veteran free agent signees Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins; 2025 third-round choose Kyle Williams of Washington State; prime slot possibility DeMario “Pop” Douglas; fellow Japanese Washington alum Kendrick Bourne; and up to date draft picks Kayshon Boutte (2023 sixth spherical), Ja’Lynn Polk (2024 second spherical) and Javon Baker (2024 fourth spherical), amongst others.

A technique to take action shall be to ship performs like his 67-yard catch-and-run landing in final season’s finale in opposition to Northern Arizona, when Chism took a brief bubble move, broke an preliminary sort out, and darted previous and weaved by defenders earlier than diving into the tip zone.

That’s, in some ways, reflective of his taking part in model. Chism was timed at 4.71 within the 40-yard sprint within the predraft course of however had high-ranking occasions within the three-cone drill (6.77), quick shuttle (4.04) and 10-yard cut up (1.62) — which displays his capacity to vary instructions and speed up shortly.

That was evident in Friday’s rookie minicamp apply when Chism wore No. 86, caught a number of passes, labored on shallow possibility routes, and was amongst these staying after apply for additional work.

“He catches every part, is a pupil of the sport, understands spatial consciousness, is dynamic in tight areas — a tricky sort out,” Greatest mentioned. “He is a kind of guys the place he does not have lengthy velocity, however he can hit house runs. Whether or not they’re out-of-the-park house runs, or inside-the-park house runs, all of them rely the identical.”

2. Vrabel’s Tennessee return: When the NFL releases the 2025 schedule Wednesday — with some prime-time video games introduced within the days beforehand — one Patriots recreation of be aware shall be Vrabel’s return to Tennessee after serving as Titans head coach from 2018 to 2023. Will that storyline, coupled with the Titans’ No. 1 general choose, quarterback Cam Ward, create sufficient buzz that the league places it in prime time?

Vrabel ought to obtain a heat welcome in Nashville, based on former Titans security Blaine Bishop (1993-2001), who co-hosts the “Blaine and Zach” present on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville.

“It is going to be thrilling, an incredible dialog piece, and I feel he shall be acquired nicely,” Bishop mentioned. “As a head coach right here, he did very well as much as the tip. The followers liked Vrabel. He gained. Was Coach of the Yr [in 2021]. He is within the dialog, despite the fact that it was a brief window, as among the best coaches within the Tennessee Titans‘ small historical past.”

3. Henderson’s absence: If there was a shock at Friday’s rookie minicamp apply, it was that working again TreVeyon Henderson did not take part. No cause was given by the group, though a group supply mentioned it wasn’t a significant concern.

The second-round choose from Ohio State was the lone rookie to not participate in drills, which opened the door for undrafted Lan Larison, of UC Davis, to take prime repetitions as the one different working again on the sector.

On Saturday, the Patriots posted a video that confirmed Henderson arriving to the apply area with a helmet.

4. Welcome to NE: With a gentle rain and temperatures within the 50s on Friday, many rookies acquired an early really feel for all times in New England, and that was earlier than Vrabel moved apply inside. It was particularly the case for kicker Andres Borregales, the sixth-round choose from the College of Miami who grew up in South Florida.

“Undoubtedly humbling,” he mentioned. “That is house now. Clearly, it should take me a little bit bit to get acclimated to the climate, however on the finish of the day, I will be wonderful.”

5. Vrabel’s method: Vrabel’s direct involvement in apply stood out, comparable to placing on a No. 51 pinnie and taking part on the scout group as an inside linebacker. At one other level, he was teaching up tryout participant Hector Johnson of Endicott School (Mass.) on particular groups method, and later complimenting first-year receiver John Jiles with a high-five for the way in which he snatched the ball on an away-from-his-body reception.

Gamers took be aware.

“I like that, as a result of it exhibits you ways a lot he cares in regards to the rookies and their improvement — everyone, not simply the drafted guys,” mentioned heart Jared Wilson, the third-round choose from the College of Georgia. “And he is hands-on with every part. It is nice to see him on the market truly working round with us.”

6. Williams’ background: Receiver Kyle Williams, the third-round choose from Washington State, defined how rising up within the Los Angeles space has formed his soccer method.

“A whole lot of issues aren’t promised, quite a lot of issues aren’t assured, it is a dog-eat-dog world the place I am from. So you will have to have the ability to get it and have a chip in your shoulder,” he mentioned. “Carrying it all through my complete life, and carrying it now, I really feel like it is going to take me locations I actually wish to go.”

Alongside these traces, Williams was one of many final gamers off the sector at Friday’s apply, staying late to work with OC McDaniels.

7. Conley’s likelihood: Left guard is among the Patriots’ most open competitions. Veteran free agent signing Wes Schweitzer is amongst these taking prime reps within the voluntary offseason program, and undrafted free agent Jack Conley of Boston School lined up there throughout Friday’s rookie minicamp.

Conley was between first-round choose Will Campbell at left sort out and Wilson at heart — highlighting a first-rate alternative forward of him to presumably seize. At least, Conley appears the half at 6-7 and 333 kilos, which makes him stand out from the group.

8. They mentioned it: “I am stunned there’s timber. I had by no means been wherever up right here earlier than, and I at all times thought this was a little bit bit nearer to Boston and it was a bunch of big-city buildings and stuff like that. So after they picked me up from the airport, and I acquired out right here, I mentioned, ‘Dang, there are quite a lot of timber out right here.’ I wasn’t anticipating that.” — Campbell, the first-round choose from LSU who grew up in Monroe, Louisiana, on what has stood out to him in New England

9. Highsmith rent: The Patriots crammed the void created by director of professional scouting Patrick Stewart’s departure to turn out to be College of Nebraska common supervisor by hiring A.J. Highsmith, whose father is New England senior personnel government Alonzo Highsmith. A former College of Miami participant (like his father), Highsmith transitioned from quarterback to security throughout his profession (2009-13) and most lately served as Titans director of scouting.

10. Do you know? Borregales was born in Venezuela and moved to the Florida when he was 2 years outdated. Since 2020, the Patriots (3) and Rams (2) are the one NFL groups to draft a number of kickers.



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