Efton Chism III made the one-handed touchdown catch that sealed New England’s win in Buffalo last week, a play that screamed louder than any stat sheet about the burgeoning trust between the undrafted rookie and quarterback Drake Maye. That kind of connection is exactly what Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has been preaching, and it’s showing up when it counts for the 2026 season.
From Undrafted Rookie to Maye’s Go-To Guy in Buffalo
Vrabel made it crystal clear back in OTAs last June what he looks for in a wide receiver. “The biggest thing for receivers is that there’s trust from the guy that throws the football,” he said. Vrabel added that you don’t need a deep dive to figure out who a quarterback trusts, you just look at “the ones they target.” Chism, an undrafted rookie, certainly took that to heart. He absolutely grinded during the offseason, consistently drawing targets, and ended up earning a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster. And he’s not just warming the bench on Sundays either. Last week, in that crucial game against Buffalo, Chism caught both of his targets. Yeah, both of ’em. One of those was that insane one-handed touchdown grab that came on the game-winning drive. If that doesn’t scream trust, what does?
The “Little Things” That Build a Big Connection
So, how did this bond between Maye and Chism even happen? It’s not like Chism was getting endless practice reps with the first-team offense. He’s been sharing the wide receiver room with veteran studs like Stefon Diggs, Romeo Doubs, and Mack Hollins. Most of his work has been with the second-team offense in training camp and then on the scout team during the season, where he gets to go up against the Patriots’ top defense. Defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr even had to chuckle when asked about Chism’s scout team plays, saying “Like 50,” plays stand out. But Chism wasn’t content with just those reps. He stays late after practice practically every day, or he tracks Maye down at odd hours in the facility just to watch film together. Maye has definitely noticed all that extra effort. He pointed out how Chism is “doing a lot of the little things that I think were just showing up.” Maye loves that Chism “comes in every day, enjoys trying to see my side of things, asks questions and tries to get on the same page, and that’s what ends up happening. You start seeing the results.” It’s comforting for Maye to know he has “a guy out there in the huddle” who’s always in the right spot and knows what to do. After making the biggest play of his young career, Chism didn’t celebrate for long. He was back in Foxboro at 6 a.m. each morning this week, staying late to catch more passes from Maye.
The Patriots are gearing up to take on the 3-1 Raiders back at Gillette Stadium next, looking to build their first winning streak of the 2026 season. Keep your eyes peeled for Chism; that preparation is going to keep paying off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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