Cool Link VIDEO: Efton Chism Getting After It

DaBruinz said:

I don't know that anyone has handed Chism the Slot Receiver role or even a spot on the 53-man roster. The Patriots have added some key pieces that should make Kick Returns even better. Particularly if Gilliam is the lead guy in front of whomever is returning.

Why are you "sure we're going to draft at least a couple of WRs"? With Doubs, Boutte, Williams, and Hollins as the top 4, I whole-heartedly disagree that the Pats are going to use 2 draft picks on WR. I could see them drafting ONE guy in the mid to late rounds and maybe adding another as a UDFA.

With the talk of Brown still and Wolf mentioning that Diggs might still return, I highly doubt the Pats will use more than 1 draft pick. They are just too much of a commodity to waste on a player who's chance of making the team is already stacked. Especially when the Pats seem to be moving toward a heavier amount of Running with the additions of Gilliam and Hill

Click to expand...

My thoughts on drafting a couple of WRs are based on the need to add more playmakers for Maye.

Obviously I don’t know the exact amount of WRs the Pats are going to draft but I can’t see them not addressing that position at all when draft time comes. Our WR group is not that good.

The top 4 WRs (pre draft) are pretty much set IMO (Doubs, Boutte, Hollins, Williams) unless Boutte gets moved for Brown. So that leaves Douglas and Chism as the vulnerable WRs on the team and I’m certain the Pats will bring in competition to try and upgrade them.

Let’s be honest…since when are WR5/6 roster spots ever safe? There’s a reason why they’re at the bottom of the group. They’ll be fighting for their jobs and rightfully so. Competition makes the team better.

palialka said:

My thoughts on drafting a couple of WRs are based on the need to add more playmakers for Maye.

Obviously I don’t know the exact amount of WRs the Pats are going to draft but I can’t see them not addressing that position at all when draft time comes. Our WR group is not that good.

The top 4 WRs (pre draft) are pretty much set IMO (Doubs, Boutte, Hollins, Williams) unless Boutte gets moved for Brown. So that leaves Douglas and Chism as the vulnerable WRs on the team and I’m certain the Pats will bring in competition to try and upgrade them.

Let’s be honest…since when are WR5/6 roster spots ever safe? There’s a reason why they’re at the bottom of the group. They’ll be fighting for their jobs and rightfully so. Competition makes the team better.

Click to expand...

Not questioning whether WR5/WR6 is safe. Questioning the idea that the Pats will use 2 Draft picks on WR. Especially when I don't believe that they are going to carry 6WR on the roster this year. I think they'll carry 5 on the 53-man and 2-3 on the PS. Doubs, Williams and Hollins are the only "safe" ones. I favor Boutte being kept over Douglas because Boutte seems to be better at clutch catches. But if they added someone like Brown, then I don't see them keeping Boutte either because he'd be buried and not getting enough reps. Boutte doesn't turn 24 until May 7th. So he's 18 months younger than Douglas as well. It's also why I'd rather keep him and develop him over adding someone like Brown, but that's me.

"Draft 2 WRs" can mean drastically different things depending on where they are.

Right now they have a pick in every round with 2 in the 4th and 4 in the 6th (11 total). It wouldn't "surprise" me if, even if they drafted a WR in the 1st round, they still took one more in the 6th AND still used their 7th on a THIRD WR. I'd be pretty surprised if they used their first 2 picks on WRs though.

Those late round picks are such shots in the dark for the most part that I don't think position really matters a ton.

I would say that Doubs/Boutte/Hollins/KWilliams are "locks" right now barring something EXTREME. Beyond that, I think the spots are up for grabs. Douglas has that play time escalator so he's due to make $3M. They don't use him on STs and that's expensive for a 5th or 6th WR. I think he probably needs to earn a spot in the top 4 WRs to stick. I just think that if he falls in as WR5 or WR6 that they'd go with a younger guy vs. keeping a vet in the last year of his deal for a gameday inactive or low playing time role. If KWilliams beats out Douglas, I think it's like the end of his tenure here. Chism made the team last year but he's a guy I could easily see them cutting in camp this year. He's just not anything more than a back of the roster guy yet and those guys get shuffled around all the times.

With 1-2 WR spots open (depending on if they keep 5-6), I'd say it's possible they could keep 2 rookies. Those guys just have to beat out Douglas and Chism (and in the case of Douglas they might not even need to "beat him out" much like they released Bourne last year for younger guys that he outplayed because it was only marginally and there are contract/succession planning implications). There are also practice squad spots available, particularly for late round picks.

DaBruinz said:

Not questioning whether WR5/WR6 is safe. Questioning the idea that the Pats will use 2 Draft picks on WR. Especially when I don't believe that they are going to carry 6WR on the roster this year. I think they'll carry 5 on the 53-man and 2-3 on the PS. Doubs, Williams and Hollins are the only "safe" ones. I favor Boutte being kept over Douglas because Boutte seems to be better at clutch catches. But if they added someone like Brown, then I don't see them keeping Boutte either because he'd be buried and not getting enough reps. Boutte doesn't turn 24 until May 7th. So he's 18 months younger than Douglas as well. It's also why I'd rather keep him and develop him over adding someone like Brown, but that's me.

Click to expand...

I see what your saying and I can’t really disagree with much of the arguments you present.

We’ll see if they draft 1 or 2 WRs; I just want the Pats to address that group in the draft. There’s room in our current WR corps to add young playmakers. One is fine as long as he can contribute to the team’s success.

We share the same thoughts on Boutte. He’s either on the team as our WR2/3 or he’s dealt in a package for Brown. All things being equal, I’d definitely rather have Boutte on the team than Douglas if no deals are made.

Personally, I think we’ll keep 6 WRs again as that suits Maye and his ability to spread the ball around but who knows. Keeping 5 wouldn’t shock me either.

Regarding Chism, if he shows up to camp and kicks @ss making the team again, I’ll be the first in line to congratulate him and hope that he helps us win some games. Let’s see what happens over the summer.

DaBruinz said:

Why do people like yourself insist that Doubs is, all of a sudden, going to be a primary slot guy?
In 4 years:

2022 - 426 outside / 97 Slot /6 backfield
2023 - 800 outside / 128 slot / 10 backfield
2024 - 620 outside / 73 slot / 2 backfield
2025 - 708 outside / 115 slot / 8 backfield
Totals: 2554 outside / 413 slot / 26 backfield = 2993 snaps.

Outside - 85.3% outside
Inside - 13.8% inside
Backfield - 1.1% backfield.

Yet, The Pats are going to change that and move him inside predominantly? I whole-heartedly disagree.

I think they are much more likely to rotate the 4 WRs they dress each game through the slot than have a dedicated slot person.

Click to expand...

I am assuming it based on my expectations the Pats trade for Brown. It would be the most logical position for him if Brown and Boutte are on the team. He has the skill set to be a slot in this offense, but would exclusive like Diggs last year. He would move around.

And Diggs was primarily an outside X receiver until two years ago. He became primarily a slot guy in Houston and continued in New England.

Again, if Brown doesn’t traded or the Pats trade Boutte after getting Brown, my opinion would change.

But in the Patriots offense, the position you start in doesn’t mean anything. Edelman constantly moved from the slot to outside. And eventually moved him more exclusively outside when he became the Pats best WR and had other options for the slot.

Rob0729 said:

I am assuming it based on my expectations the Pats trade for Brown. It would be the most logical position for him if Brown and Boutte are on the team. He has the skill set to be a slot in this offense, but would exclusive like Diggs last year. He would move around.

And Diggs was primarily an outside X receiver until two years ago. He became primarily a slot guy in Houston and continued in New England.

Again, if Brown doesn’t traded or the Pats trade Boutte after getting Brown, my opinion would change.

But in the Patriots offense, the position you start in doesn’t mean anything. Edelman constantly moved from the slot to outside. And eventually moved him more exclusively outside when he became the Pats best WR and had other options for the slot.

Click to expand...

A few things.

Diggs was not primarily a slot guy in Houston.

Diggs -
2024: 226 snaps Wide and 197 snaps in the slot and 7 from the backfield for 430 snaps.

That's 52.6% wide, 45.8% slot and 1.6% in the backfield.

in 2023:
716 snaps wide, 343 snaps slot and 15 backfield.
that's 66.7% wide, 31.9% slot, and 1.4% bacfield.

You have to go back to 2016 (Diggs' 2nd year in the league) to find where Diggs took more snaps in the slot than he did wide.
278 snaps wide, 412 snaps in the slot, and 3 from the backfield.

That's 40.1% wide, 59.5% slot, and 0.4% backfield.

That's the year that they had Theilen, Corderelle Paterson and Kyle Rudolph as well.

So, maybe I am being too hasty in thinking that Doubs wouldn't move to the slot. But, honestly, if they brought in Brown, I think that Boutte and Douglas would be gone. And I think it would be a mistake.. but that's me..

Drake threw for almost 4400 yds last year...our receivers SUCK SO BAD.
You guys are tiresome.....

Hugepatsfan said:

DD and Chism were both on the team last year and the team DECISIVELY felt DD was better. That's just absolute fact based on playing time. That doesn't mean that Chism can't eventually overtake him, but it's pretty bold to predict it based on how much better the team viewed DD last year. DD is also only 1 year older too, so it's not like he himself couldn't improve as much or more than Chism, though with more experience I guess you could argue he's closer to what he'll end up being already.

Click to expand...

Welker and Edelman didn’t even play as rookies so not sure the relevance going forward?
DD targets were cut in half from pre Josh offense,

He uses speed to get open but they have better speed guys. They need a quick short area separator at slot, DD just isn’t a fit.
Chism Might be, might not but he has a better profile for slot in Josh’s offense.

PatsFan2 said:

Pop Douglas does that same drill smoother and faster and still can't be consistent in our Offense.

Click to expand...

Tripping over the yard markings doesn’t help him

WhatJustHappened said:

Drake threw for almost 4400 yds last year...our receivers SUCK SO BAD.
You guys are tiresome.....

Click to expand...

Man, if only he had good receivers he might’ve done something.

IMO Chism has to be incredibly good at the short game to be on an active roster. He does not have the speed to be on the outside or KR/PR/ST.

PatsFan2 said:

Cyrus Allen Career Stats - NCAAF - ESPN

Complete career NCAAF stats for Cincinnati Bearcats Wide Receiver Cyrus Allen on ESPN. Includes scoring, rushing, defensive and receiving stats.

www.espn.com

Cyrus Allen Cincinnati will make an IMPACT in the Slot 13 TD's last year.

Click to expand...

Skyler Bell from UConn is an option as is the Navy kid (too lazy to look up how to spell his name).

I really don't get the hold for Chism. Would love to be wrong but there hasn't been a single shred of evidence to suggest he's anything beyond a very low chance of plug-in when push comes to shove. He is _extremely_ cheap which is why the team will hold on.

KCSVEN said:

Welker and Edelman didn’t even play as rookies so not sure the relevance going forward?
DD targets were cut in half from pre Josh offense,

Click to expand...

Welker did not have a catch as a rookie, but Edelman had 37 receptions in 11 games. Most of that came in Weeks 2 to 6. When he broke his arm he actually led all rookies in receptions.

At EWU Chism averaged 100 catches a season in 2023 and 2024.

ctpatsfan77 said:

Welker did not have a catch as a rookie, but Edelman had 37 receptions in 11 games. Most of that came in Weeks 2 to 6. When he broke his arm he actually led all rookies in receptions.

At EWU Chism averaged 100 catches a season in 2023 and 2024.

Click to expand...

Yes, but Edelman had 7 catches in 2010, 4 in 2011 and 21 in 2012. It was Year 5 he broke out.
This is unusual but the point is what Chism did as a rookie compared to DD is not relevant.
When the team got a good offense and OC DD's targets were basically cut in half.

Whether Chism himself has enough talent to be a better fit for the offense is unclear but will become clear this year.

What isn't unclear is that Chism's STYLE of receiver in the slot is a way better fit than DD and his style in this particular offense with this QB.

I would not be surprised the Pats take a flyer on a late round slot receiver.

KCSVEN said:

Welker and Edelman didn’t even play as rookies so not sure the relevance going forward?
DD targets were cut in half from pre Josh offense,

Click to expand...

This is so tired. Were you not alive during Edelman's rookie season?

He played in 11 games, had 37 catches, and then led the team with 6 catches in the postseason game against the Ravens.

Honestly, people just throw this stuff out there without a thought.

KCSVEN said:

Welker and Edelman didn’t even play as rookies so not sure the relevance going forward?
DD targets were cut in half from pre Josh offense,

He uses speed to get open but they have better speed guys. They need a quick short area separator at slot, DD just isn’t a fit.
Chism Might be, might not but he has a better profile for slot in Josh’s offense.

Click to expand...

What Welker and Edelman did as rookies compared to Chism is a meaningless comparison. They have nothing to do with each other. Every player's career arc is different. Plenty of guys did nothing and never went on to do anything. Some are great and flame out. There's very little value in saying that Player A is ahead of, behind, or on par with Player B through however many games or seasons. There are thousands of examples you can pull and all that type of thing ever ends up being is confirmation bias because fans will pick a guy whose career arc they want someone to follow and use that rather than the thousands of less favorable examples they could pick.

What Chism did as a rookie last year compared to DD is very relevant however because that's a direct comparison as they are now. You keep saying Chism is a better fit, but all I'm saying is that right now Josh McDaniels disagrees with you. The player Chism is vs. the player DD is, he believes DD is the better fit. He evidences that stance with his playing time decisions.

Maybe Chism develops. He's still only a 24 year old with his first year of experience in the offense and at the NFL level. But DD is only 25 so it's not like he's some washed up player. And I'd argue that coverage recognition skills (which DD seems to lack) are much more realistic to develop than lacking NFL level athleticism (appears to be the case for Chism).

rochrist said:

This is so tired. Were you not alive during Edelman's rookie season?

He played in 11 games, had 37 catches, and then led the team with 6 catches in the postseason game against the Ravens.

Honestly, people just throw this stuff out there without a thought.

Click to expand...

Right as I mentioned in the follow up post I misspoke he hardly played the first four years which is the point I was making

Hugepatsfan said:

What Chism did as a rookie last year compared to DD is very relevant however because that's a direct comparison as they are now. You keep saying Chism is a better fit, but all I'm saying is that right now Josh McDaniels disagrees with you. The player Chism is vs. the player DD is, he believes DD is the better fit. He evidences that stance with his playing time decisions.

Click to expand...

I said I don’t know if Chism is a fit talent wise.
His style of play suits the offense better than DD, whose style doesn’t fit the offense which was proven last year on tape, in the games, and in his vastly reduced playtime and production

The fact that Chism had to grow and learn as a rookie behind a bunch of veterans doesn’t change what happens in 2026, which is what we’re talking about
His style play is a better fit than DD. In the end, he may not have the talent, but that doesn’t change the fact that he has a better chance of being successful in this offense because of his style of play than Douglas.

KCSVEN said:

I said I don’t know if Chism is a fit talent wise.
His style of play suits the offense better than DD, whose style doesn’t fit the offense which was proven last year on tape, in the games, and in his vastly reduced playtime and production

The fact that Chism had to grow and learn as a rookie behind a bunch of veterans doesn’t change what happens in 2026, which is what we’re talking about
His style play is a better fit than DD. In the end, he may not have the talent, but that doesn’t change the fact that he has a better chance of being successful in this offense because of his style of play than Douglas.

Click to expand...

Yep…Chism may or may not have enough physical talent to succeed in the NFL…but his skillset is a better fit in the Slot then Pop.