Patriots Sign 3 Players and Release Brock Lampe Before 2026 Camp

Q: Amidst a crowded receiver room led by A.J. Brown, which unexpected underdog will survive the brutal roster cuts in Foxborough?

Efton Chism III looks like the best bet to survive as Foxborough’s unexpected receiver underdog. He is not the safest name in the room, but the evidence points to him having a real path on a crowded depth chart led by A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs and veteran holdovers. Chism already made the 53-man roster once as an undrafted player, giving him credibility with the current staff. Reports from the spring also said he was consistently getting open in 11-on-11 work, and his special teams value remains a major advantage in what could be a battle for the final receiver spot. That matters because the Patriots’ receiver competition is less about pure receiving talent at the top and more about role fit at the bottom. Brown and Doubs are locked in. Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins are in a much more public fight, but both are established enough that one could be traded or cut for roster balance. DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams still have clearer offensive roles than Chism. So if New England keeps six or even seven wideouts, the last place may go to the player who can justify game-day activation through special teams and developmental upside. That is Chism’s case. The main challenger is Chism himself: if the Patriots prioritize size or proven production, Hollins or Boutte could squeeze him out. But among the true underdogs, Chism has the strongest combination of prior roster success, camp momentum and utility.

3 articles · Updated · Pats Pulpit · Jul 24

New England added tight ends Mitch Van Vooren and Jeremiah Franklin plus linebacker Riley Wilson, while cutting fullback Brock Lampe ahead of training camp.
The moves came as the Patriots rolled out their 2026 camp schedule and shifted focus to roster competitions, breakout candidates and bubble battles across the depth chart.
Position fights are drawing particular attention at wide receiver and edge rusher, while local coverage also flagged Drake Maye’s development and Christian Gonzalez’s contract status as key camp storylines.
The roster shuffle follows a 2025 Super Bowl season and a turbulent offseason, with camp now serving as the next test of whether New England can move forward cleanly.