The New England Patriots drafted Eli Raridon out of Notre Dame in the third round earlier this year, and he's been great to start his NFL career.
Fans had high hopes for him, given his draft value, the fact that Josh McDaniels loves running two-tight-end sets, and his potential. And he's lived up to that so far.
In four games, Raridon has caught eight of his nine targets for 101 yards and a touchdown (the first one of the NFL season; just a fun fact). And he was especially impactful in Week 5, when he recorded five receptions for 57 yards (both career highs so far, and all in the second half) against the Las Vegas Raiders.
It's still early, and I'm not going to act like he's the next Rob Gronkowski, but Raridon looks really good right now, and it's looking like New England got it right in the draft.
Eli Raridon is already showing his value to the Patriots
What's impressed me the most about Raridon so far is how good he's been at stretching the field. He's not a Randy Moss-type of deep threat or anything, but he is proving to be a solid and versatile route runner (he ran a fantastic wheel route against the Raiders on his second reception of the game when he beat Quay Walker near the sideline) and can do damage past the short game.
Raridon isn't a Frankenstein's monster-type of a tight end. He's not going to bulldoze his way into the endzone and wreck everybody in his way. But not all tight ends need to be like that. The Iowa native has a lot more finesse to his game, and he relies more on his speed (he runs incredibly well for someone who is 6'6" and 245 pounds), route-running, and versatility. It's worked so far, and it should continue to work as he develops his game. He's only going to get better.
The 22-year-old is a great complement to Hunter Henry, who is more of a short-route, possession-receiving type of tight end. And, to be direct, he's probably going to be Henry's eventual replacement whenever he calls it a career.
Eli Raridon should be a long-term contributor in New England
Raridon brings short- and long-term value to New England, and I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes one of Drake Maye's favorite targets down the line. He is already proving to be a reliable target, and his combination of size, speed, and athleticism makes him stand out in comparison to the rest of the offense.
It's still very early, but Raridon has looked impressive so far. He looks more comfortable every week, and he's clearly on an upward trajectory.
The Patriots aren't particularly known for being good at drafting pass-catchers in the early rounds (N'Keal Harry in the first round in 2019, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene in the third round in 2020, Tyquan Thornton in the second round in 2022, and Ja'Lynn Polk in the second round in 2024), but it looks like they may have bucked that trend with the Raridon pick (knock on wood).
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