Efton Chism III

Career StatsC-

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yards	TD
Career		8	3	75	1
2025		8	3	75	1

Updated Jun 23, 2026

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Above-replacement production at the WR salary tier earns Efton Chism III a C+ Contract Value Index. At $996,667 AAV over three years, the deal sits comfortably in depth-piece territory, which aligns with his C- performance grade and modest 2025 season output of 75 receiving yards across 8 games. For a second-year receiver still establishing NFL baseline production, the salary structure reflects appropriate risk-reward positioning — low enough that the Patriots retain flexibility if he doesn't develop, yet structured long enough to allow runway for growth. At 24 with only one season of professional experience behind him, Chism remains in pure developmental stage, and the CVI appropriately prices in the uncertainty around whether he'll ever graduate beyond rotational depth status. Media framing positions him as a fringe roster candidate fighting for his professional survival, and the Patriots' recent receiver acquisitions underscore the organizational skepticism about his viability in the current depth chart. The three-year term is reasonable for a bubble contributor — not the kind of commitment that burdens the cap if he flames out, but structured to retain his rights if he unexpectedly breaks through training camp. This is a bet-on-yourself contract for a player whose path to meaningful NFL production remains unproven but not foreclosed.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Efton's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Efton Chism III is a 24-year-old rookie wide receiver in his eighth game with the New England Patriots, operating as a developmental depth piece in an early-stage role. Through limited exposure, he carries a C- grade that reflects the modest statistical footprint typical of a reserve option seeing inconsistent snaps in a crowded receiver room. His early trajectory suggests potential but requires sustained opportunity and refinement before evaluating his long-term ceiling. Chism's most striking metric is yards per reception at 25.0, well above the NFL average of 12.13 and into elite territory at the 21.81 threshold. This explosive average indicates strong separation ability and downfield threat potential when the ball arrives his way. However, he's generating just 9.38 receiving yards per game—far below the league average of 18.39—a gap that reflects limited target volume rather than execution failure. His touchdown production averages 0.13 per game, slightly below the NFL mean of 0.18, suggesting he hasn't yet developed consistent red-zone rapport with the quarterback or coaching staff. The disconnect between elite yards per catch and underwhelming per-game volume paints a picture of a talented receiver not yet integrated into offensive scheming. Moving forward, Chism's success hinges on earning more consistent targets and opportunities to demonstrate whether his per-catch explosiveness translates to sustained offensive impact. Watch for increased snap counts and route tree expansion in 2025 as the true indicators of whether he's trending toward developmental contributor or organizational depth.

How Efton Compares at the Position

Efton Chism III ranks 162nd of 300 graded wide receivers by performance. That slots Efton between TAY Martin (C) just ahead and Tejhaun Palmer (C-) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Efton Chism III enters 2026 as a depth receiver with minimal NFL resume but notably positive organizational messaging from the Patriots. The five recent headlines uniformly frame him as a prospect with untapped potential rather than an established contributor, emphasizing his work ethic and readiness to compete for a roster spot. Media coverage reflects a team investing developmental attention in a young player, though the repeated emphasis on "earning" and "battling" for a role underscores his precarious roster status. Fan and media perception remains cautiously optimistic—neither dismissive nor confident—reflecting the reality that Chism remains a fringe player with opportunity but no proven production. His 2026 trajectory will hinge entirely on whether he translates offseason effort into meaningful snaps and statistics; current perception is anchored to potential rather than achievement.