DRAFT Welcome To New England Notre Dame TE Eli Raridon (3rd round, #95)

[VJCPatriot]

Not who you asked but I'll jump in.

Raridon has skill but he is not one of those truly special players imo. He will best feast and famine a bit more than us like as he will either take a few big chunks out of you or be a bit of a non-factor. Not quite that bad, as he can do a bit of underneath work, but he works best 20 yards down the field than within 5. He can get you 5 hard yards though if need be.

After his rookie year I see him hovering between 600-900 yards. And him ideally being a deadly 3rd option who puts you over the top than a go to 2nd option. Or 1 of 2 equally good second options. His blocking will be a value add and he will feast for chunks in heavy looks. Basically the kind of guy you are better off using 3 times successfully for big plays than forcing it to 9 times a game if you have to choose between the 2 extremes.

600-900 yards is a very good year for a TE. I'd expect a great deal of the round 3 rookie WRs don't even reach those numbers. You really believe in Raridon producing early don't you?

 

[everlong]

The top rookie TEs from a receiving standpoint the past 20 years. If he falls anywhere on this list it will be impressive. Worth noting the top 3 all had significant drop offs in years 2 and 3 were applicable.

 

[Joey007]

The top rookie TEs from a receiving standpoint the past 20 years. If he falls anywhere on this list it will be impressive. Worth noting the top 3 all had significant drop offs in years 2 and 3 were applicable.

I don’t expect much more from him year 1 than what Hooper produced the last couple years. Which is more than fine.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

Post draft is when all fans dream of rainbows and unicorns about every draft pick.

What you describe is a fan thinking EVERY pick will turn out great, which I have yet to see anything close to on this board.

But multiple fans being excited to various degrees about a specific prospect? What's wrong with that?

Fact: some coveted players drafted in the 1st and 2nd rounds will have awful careers.

Also fact: some players taken from the 3rd round on will have careers that far exceed their draft position.

Raridon might not pan out. But he has the measurables and the skill to be very good if it all comes together for him.

What exactly is wrong with that opinion?

 

[rabidfireweasel]

IF Raridon shows he can Block he'll be TE one before seasons end. H Henry is very close to that TE's cliff.

Disagree completely. We will see soon enough. Henry had one of his more productive years last year in his career and has a great relationship with Drake. If Raridon shows he is good at blocking, that means he gets to block on obvious running downs.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

600-900 yards is a very good year for a TE. I'd expect a great deal of the round 3 rookie WRs don't even reach those numbers. You really believe in Raridon producing early don't you?

Not all third rounders are the same. Fannin, who almost always lines up wide, was drafted at 67. Kelce was 63. Raridon was 95. Almost any team that thought Raridon was likely to put up those numbers would have drafted him in round 2 or 3. I would say if the Patriots thought he was likely to put up those numbers, they would have packaged picks to go get him.

There basically is one inline TE in the past ten years drafted after 90 that puts up those numbers- George Kittle. To be clear, I love the optimism and I will root for him. I would rather be wrong and have him be great, than be right and have him be average. But, people are predicting Hall of Fame numbers for a end of the 3rd round pick- which is made even more difficult for an inline Y TE.

 

[Uptown]

Rare talent

Raridon most haha **Thanks, I’ll be here all week..”**

 

[n1997y]

IF Raridon shows he can Block he'll be TE one before seasons end. H Henry is very close to that TE's cliff.

You’re half right. Henry is getting long in the tooth for a TE. But if he falls off that cliff I expect he’ll be battling Raridon for TE2.

 

[PatsFan2]

You’re half right. Henry is getting long in the tooth for a TE. But if he falls off that cliff I expect he’ll be battling Raridon for TE2.

Who's TE one?? I hope you ain't overrating No TD's Julian Hill.

 

[PatsFan2]

Disagree completely. We will see soon enough. Henry had one of his more productive years last year in his career and has a great relationship with Drake. If Raridon shows he is good at blocking, that means he gets to block on obvious running downs.

Couldn't find H Henry with a search warrant in the Playoffs. Also he was dropping catchable balls.

 

[n1997y]

Who's TE one?? I hope you ain't overrating No TD's Julian Hill.

I think he could surprise. I’m not assuming his stats from Miami Dullphins reflect what he’ll do on a real football team. Having Josh calling plays and Drake “Drake Maye” Maye throwing to him are significant upgrades. We will have to wait and see how he responds to being in a better place.

 

[PatsFan2]

I think he could surprise. I’m not assuming his stats from Miami Dullphins reflect what he’ll do on a real football team. Having Josh calling plays and Drake “Drake Maye” Maye throwing to him are significant upgrades. We will have to wait and see how he responds to being in a better place.

You're a Dreamer: I have a piece of the Brooklyn Bridge to sell you.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Dude STFU. This is the second time you referred to me as whining about something. I’m about to slap you through the screen. There’s no whining and I’m gonna have to use the ignore button because you are a ******. And I knew about him way before the draft process. I actually picked him in the draft contest this year. How many did you get right.
All I said is I was worried teams taking low shots at his knee area because he is so tall and would be tough to bring down if he gained some weight. That is not whining you dipstick.

Dude. I am so not a dude. Hahahahaha. I refer to you as whining because you are a whiner. Come and slap me. I don't care. If I can't see a whiner's posts, I don't mind.

Its obvious the team is not concerned with the knee because they used a 3rd round pick on him.

 

[borisman]

Dude. I am so not a dude. Hahahahaha. I refer to you as whining because you are a whiner. Come and slap me. I don't care. If I can't see a whiner's posts, I don't mind.

Its obvious the team is not concerned with the knee because they used a 3rd round pick on him.

I’m not concerned about the knee either. I’m concerned about other players always going low on such a tall TE, like they did to Gronk, especially when he gains weight and strength. That’s it. The end.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Does seem to be the most controversial pick. Reactions from pundits have varied from "My favorite pick in the Pats draft" to "Meh - call me in a year or so after he's put on 15lb of muscle and has shown me he can block NFL players."

 

[mgteich]

Rare talent

He is. I think that he will take time to become a healthy 2027 starter.

I wouldn't use him a lot in 2026. We're fine with Henry, Hill and Gilliam. This trio is much better that Henry, Hooper and Westover.
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I could even see Henry extended to a 2-3 year contract that could be relatively easily become a 1-year contract. He id really good.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Not all third rounders are the same. Fannin, who almost always lines up wide, was drafted at 67. Kelce was 63. Raridon was 95. Almost any team that thought Raridon was likely to put up those numbers would have drafted him in round 2 or 3. I would say if the Patriots thought he was likely to put up those numbers, they would have packaged picks to go get him.

There basically is one inline TE in the past ten years drafted after 90 that puts up those numbers- George Kittle. To be clear, I love the optimism and I will root for him. I would rather be wrong and have him be great, than be right and have him be average. But, people are predicting Hall of Fame numbers for a end of the 3rd round pick- which is made even more difficult for an inline Y TE.

I think patience will be needed. Fannin Jr is certainly an interesting case for optimism.

However because Henry is here I feel like Raridon will be asked more to block early in his career and he will have to earn Drake Maye's trust before he gets more looks.

On the other hand Julian Hill is more of a dedicated blocking TE so Raridon could get some opportunities in the passing game. Raridon did show the ability to run the seam routes in college so he might get a few looks on those types of routes for us.

 

[ausbacker]

I think patience will be needed. Fannin Jr is certainly an interesting case for optimism.

However because Henry is here I feel like Raridon will be asked more to block early in his career and he will have to earn Drake Maye's trust before he gets more looks.

On the other hand Julian Hill is more of a dedicated blocking TE so Raridon could get some opportunities in the passing game. Raridon did show the ability to run the seam routes in college so he might get a few looks on those types of routes for us.

Nobody seems to give two ****s that Kelce has never thrown a successful block in his career. As much as I'd love a Gronk redux, I'll happily take Raridon being an above average receiver.

 

[rochrist]

He is. I think that he will take time to become a healthy 2027 starter.

I wouldn't use him a lot in 2026. We're fine with Henry, Hill and Gilliam. This trio is much better that Henry, Hooper and Westover.
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I could even see Henry extended to a 2-3 year contract that could be relatively easily become a 1-year contract. He id really good.

It may take him time to become a starter, but why are you acting as though his injury isn't four years old at this point?

 

[mgteich]

It may take him time to become a starter, but why are you acting as though his injury isn't four years old at this point?

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His past injuries were a concern. I suspect that he wouldn't have been available at 95 if he had no previous injuries.