Eli Raridon Draft Profile: Could He Become a Steal in This Year's Draft?
- Noah Wehby
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
After some injury-riddled years at Notre Dame, Eli Raridon finally found his footing in 2025, having his best season with the Fighting Irish. Now, Raridon enters the NFL draft with the potential to be a great value pick later in the draft.
After Oregon's standout tight end Kenyon Sadiq, the tight end rankings in this draft are fairly contested. While the rest of the tight ends are not considered to be elite, Raridon is part of a group that many consider could be very beneficial to an NFL offense. Raridon is a unique player who poses a real threat to opposing defenses. Standing at 6'7", Raridon would already be one of the tallest players in the NFL. With that length, and a 4.62 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, Raridon displays an attractive combination of size and speed for any NFL offense.
Going back to Raridon's time at Notre Dame, it got off to a bit of a rough start, as he suffered two ACL tears within a 10-month timespan. Due to this delay, Raridon fell behind on the depth chart, limiting his role for much of the 2023 and 2024 seasons. It was not until the 2025 season that Raridon finally came into the fold as a key player on the offensive side of the ball. Raridon quickly became one of CJ Carr's favorite weapons to find, specifically on key downs. Carr seemed to have a knack for finding Raridon deep down the field after he had slipped past the defense. Almost miraculously, for how good a season Raridon had, he did not catch a single touchdown in 2025, although he was close several times. Even without a touchdown, Raridon was a huge part of the offense and had a successful season, finishing with 32 catches for 482 yards. Averaging 15 yards a reception, Raridon proved himself a dangerous receiving threat who can create big plays in the passing game.
Raridon, considered to be anywhere from the fourth to around the seventh tight end in the class, will not be a day-one or maybe even a day-two pick. While he will not have the immediate pressure of performing at a high level, Raridon's skillset could allow him to be an instant impact player, making him a potential steal in this draft. Raridon is a huge target that can get downfield. That immediately makes him a great target for any quarterback. With that size, Raridon also possesses solid speed and great hands, giving him everything he needs to become a great option in the passing game. In the NFL, linebackers are getting smaller in order to deal with the impressive speed NFL offenses have. Raridon could make a living taking advantage of that decreased size. He will also see a lot of matchups with safeties, but like linebackers, Raridon should be able to use his size to create a mismatch. With his combination of size and speed, any defense will have to worry about his ability to find the seams in a defense. While Raridon is a solid prospect, he is not without his flaws. Despite his size, Raridon is not particularly strong, raising some concerns about him in run-blocking situations. Raridon has shown a willingness to block, but in the NFL, he will need to become a better blocker with the athleticism defenses bring.
Best Fits:
Round 4, Pick 125/131: New England Patriots
The Patriots have two picks in the right range for a team to draft Raridon. At this point in the draft, teams are picking for depth pieces with starter potential, which is exactly what the Patriots are looking for at tight end. After making it to the Super Bowl, the Patriots could be looking to rework their tight end room. Their veteran starter, Hunter Henry, is now on the wrong side of 30, leading many to think the Patriots could be looking for a younger, cheaper option. In free agency, the Patriots signed Julian Hill while losing receiving threat tight end, Austin Hooper. Hill is a blocking specialist who presents as a solid addition to the run game as an extra blocker. Raridon could be a potential replacement for Henry, who complements Hill's skill set perfectly. While Hill is a physical run blocker, Raridon could be the new passing threat in the room, playing to both of their skillsets and preserving balance at the position. Under Mike Vrabel, the Patriots have grown accustomed to running 12-personnel lineups. In those lineups, the offense includes two tight ends, lending itself to a more physical play-style. With the potential duo of Raridon and Hill, the Patriots could have two tight ends on the field that present different challenges for the defense. Hill would be an extra blocker in the run game, while Raridon would be another excellent passing option in play-action. Raridon not only fits a positional need for the Patriots, but he also fits exactly what the Patriots want to run on offense.
Round 4, Pick 108/111: Denver Broncos
A little earlier in the fourth round, the Broncos could also select Raridon to help out a tight end room that struggled during the 2025 season. The Broncos were one game away from the Super Bowl last season, making it crucial that they fill in the final gaps of a roster that will look to finish the job in 2026. The tight end room may be one of the biggest gaps they need to fill. With that being said, they may look to draft a tight end much earlier in order to get a bonafide starter, but Raridon could be excellent value later in the draft if they decide to wait. Last season, the Broncos' tight ends had the worst PFF grade in the entire NFL. With no true receiving threat, Raridon could help in adding a little more punch to that room. With Bo Nix having a breakout year, it will be important for the Broncos to continue to add options around Nix. Raridon is a solid piece to surround Nix with, as he never appeared to have a sure set of hands to rely on for stretches of last year. With Jaylen Waddle now on the team, they now have a player who is elite at stretching the field, opening up the middle of the field for a big target like Raridon.
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