DRAFT DAY DISCUSSION 2026 NFL Draft: Day 2

[TommyD4207]

Move up from the late 5th round?

Yes.

 

[DaBruinz]

compensatory picks throw everything off... but if the Pats wanted to they could bottle 171, 191 and 198 to move up to 120 give or take. If there was REALLY someone they wanted to get there. Just food for thought.

Boutte is worth a 4th round pick by himself. No need to add all those picks..

 

[scott99]

Raridon 2 torn ACLs on the SAME knee …..yikes….thats a little risky

Eli Raridon Tight End Notre Dame | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Rating: 83.2 Rank: #10 Forty: 4.62 Watch enough tape on Raridon and you see a tight end who can contribute right away in specific packages while developing into something more substantia...

www.nfldraftbuzz.com

Yet ran a 4.62, which is amazing at that size. Also has massive hands at 10 3/4. Also had a 36 inch vertical at 6’6”. If the Pats are smart, he’ll be used as a red zone target. With those measurables, he could be a red zone nightmare for defenders. Has a background in basketball so knows how to box guys out. I think Maye will target him if he gets a decent around of snaps.

 

[BobDigital]

Current grades

Caleb Lomu - OT - B+
Gabe Jacas - ED - B+
Eli Raridon - TE - A (not an A+ cause there was a chance they maybe could trade down a few picks and get him... maybe... also was not BPA, but pretty close).

Overall to this point... A-

 

[borisman]

Do we really need more picks this year?

Let’s trade some for 2027 picks.

We have only 5 more picks. None in the fourth round.

 

[hornetfb85]

Watch NFL Network much better coverage. ESPN sucks.

Daniel Jeremiah is the draft guy I pay attention to.

 

[Ross12]

So the Pats got…

- Tackle depth this year and high-end right tackle of the future
- Violent edge capable of starting almost immediately
- 6’7” athletic tight end with TE1 potential after a year

Add an AJ Brown trade on top and they are cooking. Only holes left are, perhaps, guard and LB depth, and maybe a little more edge depth too.

 

[BobDigital]

Boutte is worth a 4th round pick by himself. No need to add all those picks..

If we trade Boutte i want more than a 4th. They will get a comp 4th for him if they keep him possibly. I want a 4th this year and next year.

 

[rochrist]

• Tears apart zone coverages with his length and feel for finding space, settling into holes between levels and converting short gains into chunk yardage consistently.
• Forces safeties to respect him vertically, which opens up the entire middle of the field and gives the offense an extra dimension defenses have to account for.
• Timing at the route break point keeps improving, snapping his head around on schedule and giving quarterbacks clean throwing windows to hit him in rhythm.
• Brings more physicality as a blocker than that lean build suggests, delivering functional pop at the second level and showing he'll get after people in the trenches.
• Grip strength catches you off guard, locking onto defenders when blocking and securing passes through contact even when defenders are draped all over him.
• Works seam routes intelligently by using those long strides and reading coverage shells, knowing when to throttle down versus when to keep pushing vertical.
• Can handle three-down work with his blend of receiving chops and blocking commitment, the kind of tight end who doesn't come off the field based on situation.
• Route stems getting more advanced as he figures out how to manipulate defenders with tempo changes and leverage positioning, steering coverage before breaking into open grass.

I'll take it.

 

[mgteich]

Move up from the late 5th round?

A fifth and a couple of 6th's should get us into the 4th.

Of course, there is also a 2nd way.

 

[BobDigital]

From profootballnetwork.com

Eli Raridon

Eli Raridon is one of the more intriguing TE prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. He's dealt with injuries in the past, but was mostly healthy in 2025, and turned in a career-best campaign as a result. He caught 32 passes for 482 yards, and while he didn't score any touchdowns, he proved his mettle time and time again as a venerable seam-splicing and RAC threat in open space.

At around 6'7", 252 pounds, Raridon is a long and lean TE with great measurables, as well as good baseline explosiveness, foot speed, and open-field pace. He's a high-quality blocker who can work in-line, pull, or track defenders in space, and as a receiver, he melds efficient acceleration, bend, zone IQ, body control, and strong hands to function as a quality intermediate safety blanket.

Top Traits:
Hands - 8.9/10
Blocking - 8.9
Instincts - 8.3
Explosiveness - 8.3
Long Speed - 8.1

RAS Score: 9.46
TE Rank: #4

Don't know where the RAS disconnect came from for them.

 

[TommyD4207]

We have only 5 more picks. None in the fourth round.

There's already 75 players on the roster as we speak.

 

[Wozzy]

Well it didn’t work out well with Dominique Easly but he tore ACL’s in both knees. This guy did his damage back 3-4 years and certainly looks “healed”.

Raridon’s been healthy the last two years.

He has unique size, Darren Waller size and length, not quite as fast but still a very good athlete. He’s a willing blocker. It’s a solid pick.

The problem now is they don’t pick forever. The trade ups earlier sting now. No pick in the 4th and halfway through the 5th. We’re going to be sitting on our hands for a long time barring another trade up.

 

[dliverey44]

The best blocking TE in the draft.

It makes sense given that they lost Julian Hill

 

[TommyD4207]

I actually like Jacas a lot, I think he could be really special.

 

[DCore]

Rodriguez would be my #1, or anyone of the edge, Parker, Howell, Jacas, Moore. If they see another OL they like I'm fine with that. Not big on TE's as a high priority need. Maybe next year if the current group doesn't help. Should we have any reason to think Dippre can play?

Forgot about Lee Hunter. Thanks whybob.

 

[PYPER]

Jacoby going before Keionte is wild.

Yeah it is.....Most of the draft boards had Jacoby rated in the low 200's which I also felt was way too low. He's a good player. I was hoping to land him in the 6th round.

The draft boards and/or the teams were way off. A lot of low rated prospects drafted way higher than expected.

 

[Ross12]

There's already 75 players on the roster as we speak.

Yeah that’s a lot. I’m pretty confident the one 5th, three 6ths and one 7th will transform into something like one 4th and two 6ths.

 

[mgteich]

There's already 75 players on the roster as we speak.

we could cut 10 of them tommorrow abd no one would notice

 

[DCore]

Amazing draft. Eli Raridon is a first round talent without the injuries. Obviously multiple acl injuries a real risk, but love the pick in late 3rd. Follow ND closely. Solid pick.