When New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel first addressed his team this spring , his message was clear: “We don’t care how you got here.”
Throughout the team’s offseason program, that message has especially rung true for wide receiver Efton Chism III.
Despite a highly productive collegiate career in the FCS at Eastern Washington — where Chism broke Cooper Kupp’s record by tallying a catch in 53 straight games — the receiver went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft with his collegiate competition level and 4.71-second 40-yard dash hurting his stock.
But interest in the shifty receiver remained as a handful of teams lined up for his services in undrafted free agency.