The Patriots’ receiver room has given fans plenty to chew on, but the latest buzz isn’t centered only on A.J. Brown or Romeo Doubs. It’s Efton Chism III, the 2025 undrafted free agent who somehow cracked last season’s roster and has done it again this year.
Chism may not be headed for a huge workload as a pass catcher on game day, but he does have a clear role. The Patriots expect him to matter on special teams as a returner, and they also value him in practice because he helps mimic opposing receivers. That’s been especially useful ahead of the rematch with the Seahawks, where Chism has been working to copy Jaxon Smith-Njigba and give the Patriots’ cornerbacks a better look at the Offensive Player of the Year.
A clip of Chism doing that made the rounds on social media this week, and it quickly pushed Patriots fans into familiar territory: comparing him to Julian Edelman. The reaction has been loud enough that the videos have been circulating on Twitter/X for days.
Since arriving with the Patriots last offseason, Chism has already been linked to Edelman and other smaller slot receivers, so the comparison is hardly new. But after watching the recent practice footage, plenty of fans seem convinced they’re seeing something real.
You guys see it too right? pic.twitter.com/wc1W35KOyC
- Drake Maye Lover (@drakemayeloverr) September 3, 2026
Part of it may be the number Chism wears, which is the same one Edelman had throughout his career. Part of it may simply be the way he moves. Either way, the resemblance is getting attention, and it’s adding to the anticipation around what Chism might bring this season.
That could come as a sneaky slot option or as a special teams piece, which is how Edelman began his career. And if Chism gets more chances with Drake Maye, there’s at least a path - not to Edelman’s level, since Edelman is an all-time great, but to something more substantial than many expected from an undrafted player.
That kind of climb fits the Patriots’ history. Tom Brady beat the odds as a sixth-round pick, and Edelman did the same as a seventh-rounder. Chism can lean on that as motivation, and the early signs suggest he may be in line for a much bigger season than anyone had penciled in.
In Other News...
Patriots Tight End Uncertainty Could Open Door For Forgotten Veteran
A season-ending injury to Julian Hill has forced the Patriots to reshuffle their tight end depth, and the group suddenly looks a lot thinner than it did a few weeks ago. New additions Tanner Arkin and Cameron Latu give the team bodies at the position, while rookie Eli Raridon and the other backups are still trying to establish themselves after yet to recording an NFL catch.
Shane Zylstra sits on the practice squad as a familiar name who could become relevant quickly if the current mix does not hold up. A former wide receiver turned tight end, Zylstra has been around long enough to know how to stay ready, and with the room still sorting itself out, there is at least a path for the veteran to get a look if the Patriots need more stability there. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers May Have A Rare Christian Gonzalez Opening For The Wrong Reasons
Christian Gonzalez has spent the preseason in a familiar but increasingly uncomfortable place for a rising star in New England: at the center of extension talks that have yet to produce a clean finish. The Pro Bowl cornerback has been negotiating with the Patriots throughout camp, and while the team has reportedly put forward money that lines up with the market set by Devon Witherspoons recent deal, the sides still have not ironed out the contract language that can make these agreements far more complicated than the headline number.
For the Patriots, the uncertainty hangs over the start of the season because Gonzalez has not committed to playing in the opener. And while there has been chatter about a possible trade involving the Chargers, nothing official has materialized, leaving the situation stuck in the space between leverage and patience. Until the wording gets settled or the market shifts, New England is left waiting on one of its best defensive players and watching the calendar with a little more concern than it hoped for. [Read more 🡒]
Drake Maye Just Showed Why Patriots Fans Believe In Him
Drake Maye has already given Patriots fans enough through his first two seasons to start believing the organization may have found its next long-term answer at quarterback. Taken third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Maye has steadily grown into the role while carrying the usual burden that comes with playing in New England, where every promising young passer eventually gets measured against the standard set by Tom Brady.
Maye has handled that pressure by keeping the focus on the teams development rather than his own milestones, a trait that has only helped his standing inside the building. It is the kind of leadership that resonates in Foxborough, where the expectation has always been bigger than individual success, and it is a big reason the conversation around Maye keeps getting louder even as he keeps his attention on what comes next. [Read more 🡒]