Pats Pulpit
For years, the New England Patriots have paid minimal attention to the tight end position in the NFL Draft. After selecting Rob Gronkowski in 2010, they invested only two more picks within the first two days of the event. Both of those — Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene — fizzled out without having made much of an impact on the team.
Where Eli Raridon will land on the Gronkowski-Asiasi/Keene spectrum will be seen. Fact is, however, the third-round rookie has a dynamic skillset the Patriots have not had from a rookie at the position in a long time.
Name: Eli Raridon
Position: Tight end
Jersey number: 82
Opening day age: 22 (2/12/2004)
Measurements: 6’6 1/8”, 245 lbs, 10 3/4” hand size, 32 3/4” arm length, 80” wingspan, 4.62s 40-yard dash, 7.16s 3-cone drill, 4.38s short shuttle, 36” vertical jump, 10’3” broad jump, 20 bench press reps, 9.46 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: New England Patriots (2026-) | College: Notre Dame (2022-25)
A multi-sport athlete who also lettered in basketball at Valley High School in West Des Moines, IA, Raridon was a productive tight end on the football field. He received considerable interest as a four-star college recruit and even after tearing his ACL as a senior made his way to Notre Dame, the school he had been rooting for going back to his childhood days.
While his career with the Fighting Irish was disrupted by knee issues early on — he tore his ACL a second time as a freshman — Raridon earned a regular role on offense. In four seasons, he appeared in 40 games with 18 starts and hauled in 48 passers for 623 yards and three touchdowns. His most productive year came in 2025, which allowed him to enter the NFL Draft as one of the top tight end prospects available.
Raridon was eventually selected 95th overall in the third round by the Patriots.
Strengths: Raridon is a well-built player with an NFL-caliber frame and massive 10 3/4-inch hands. He has some good straight line speed, which allows him to carry linebackers up the seam in coverage and also attack the field horizontally. He doesn’t necessarily shake defenders but creates subtle separation in his routes, and has also shown a willingness to fight for contested catches; he has good body control and concentration, and knows how to use his physique to shield off defenders.
As a blocker, Raridon is willing to engage and keep his feet working through contact. He also has shown the ability to be used as a move blocker who identifies his targets well when climbing to the second level or shooting across the formation.
Weaknesses: A linear athlete, Raridon is a rigid mover in the open field and lacks elusiveness in his release and through his routes. His speed is of the build-up variety while his quickness is marginal, which allows defenders to lock onto him through his breaks. His hands are also not the quickest...
