Every offseason, there’s a player (or two) who surprises us.
When Patriots training camp starts on July 23, it’ll mark the first time players put on pads and are truly evaluated by Mike Vrabel and his new coaching staff. It won’t be a surprise if the Patriots have some under-the-radar players who stand out and either earn a roster spot or make a bigger impact than expected.
For example, last offseason, Kayshon Boutte entered training camp on the roster bubble. After a rookie season, where he caught two passes, the new staff wasn’t bullish on the young receiver – until they saw how he practiced and developed. Boutte finished third on the Patriots in receiving last fall.
Last summer was also when undrafted safety Dell Pettus shined. It was clear early on that Pettus was the best undrafted rookie in New England. It wasn’t a surprise when he made the 53-man roster.
This year’s roster looks better than 2024. It’ll create some fun matchups and roster battles. Here’s a look at five under-the-radar players who could surprise you.
K’Lavon Chaisson, edge rusher
A first-round pick by the Jaguars, Chaisson was drafted 20th overall in 2020. He came to the NFL as a raw pass rusher with potential. Chaisson didn’t quite live up to his first-round status in Jacksonville. He even began last season on the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad.
After accumulating five total sacks in four seasons, Chaisson made it to the Raiders active roster and made the most of his opportunities. The edge rusher finished with a career-high five sacks in the Raiders final five games. He has a chance to make a nice impact in Vrabel’s defense as a situational pass rusher. Chaisson wasn’t a marquee free-agent signing this offseason but could make a bigger impact than expected.
Efton Chism III, wide receiver
There’s often a hype train for a young receiver every offseason in New England. Sometimes, these players live up to the big expectations set in OTAs and minicamp. Jakobi Meyers is a great example. The undrafted rookie receiver looked better than the team’s 2019 first-round pick, N’Keal Harry. Meyers developed and turned into a good football player.
We’ll see if that’s the case with Chism. This spring, the undrafted receiver out of Eastern Washington shined. Chism led all Patriots pass catchers with 15 receptions in five open practices. The slot receiver has a chance to earn a roster spot this summer – if he can keep up the momentum when pads come on.
Jack Gibbens, linebacker
The Patriots revamped their linebacker this offseason to reflect what Vrabel covets at the position. Under the new coach, the Patriots will feature smaller, quicker, and more athletic middle linebackers. The featured new player here is Robert Spillane. The Patriots signed Christian Ellis to a 2-year, $13.5 million contract. They also return leading tackler Jahlani Tavai, who doesn’t quite fit the same mold.
Don’t be surprised if Gibbens makes a bigger impact for the Patriots this summer and fall. The 26-year-old is coming off a tough season where he made 44 tackles in 10 games before landing on the injured reserve. The year before, with Vrabel, Gibbens made a career-high 95 tackles in 14 games. He also earned the nickname ‘Dr. Gibbens’ from the Patriots coach due to his high football IQ.
Mack Hollins, wide receiver
The Patriots enter training camp with 12 receivers on the roster vying for six or seven spots. This will be the toughest position battle in all of training camp. The expectation is that Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas will lead this group. Kendrick Bourne is also a favorite of Josh McDaniels.
Hollins is known for not wearing shoes, wearing funny outfits to games, and being a great teammate. He’ll turn 32 this fall and hasn’t surpassed the 400-yard mark in the last two seasons. However, this 6-foot-4 X-receiver has a chance to make a bigger impact in Foxborough. The last time he played for McDaniels, he set career numbers – 57 receptions, 690 yards and four touchdowns. After signing a 2-year, $8.4 million contract, Hollins should be a lock to make the team.
Jacquelin Roy, defensive tackle
The Patriots have completely revamped their defense – adding new playmakers to every level. At defensive tackle, they signed Milton Williams, making him the highest-paid player in franchise history. The team also brought in veteran defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, who could help against the run.
A forgotten player in this position group is Roy. A fifth-round pick in 2023, he was released by the Minnesota Vikings last summer. The Patriots signed him to the practice squad and he eventually made his way to the active roster. In six games, Roy made two sacks to go with 17 tackles and three quarterback hits. That performance was largely forgotten because Roy suffered a neck injury and missed the final seven games. He showed the talent to make an impact – and could do so this summer.
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