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

[rochrist]

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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.

That may be true. I suspect it might be more that because of the re-injury his freshman year, he only got in one full season for them to look at. In any event, it's still only one ACL tear, re-injured likely because it didn't have enough healing time, and it is, or will be four years behind him. I mean, Gronk's injury profile was worse coming out and he worked out pretty well.

 

[mgteich]

That may be true. I suspect it might be more that because of the re-injury his freshman year, he only got in one full season for them to look at. In any event, it's still only one ACL tear, re-injured likely because it didn't have enough healing time, and it is, or will be four years behind him. I mean, Gronk's injury profile was worse coming out and he worked out pretty well.

Yes, and there have been how many more where it has worked out as it for Gronk?

 

[PatsFan2]

Not going to lie I wanted both Raridon and M Fields for Maye... serious height and catch radius for both.

 

[rochrist]

Yes, and there have been how many more where it has worked out as it for Gronk?

That's a stupid question. It implies something I did not say and completely ignores the point of what I -did- say.

 

[FCB02062]

Scott Chandler Part Deux. If we get Chandler from Buffalo it would be a solid pick - 50 catches/588 yards drawn out to a 17 game season. That would be a win for a third rounder

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Our running game should be much better this year, from week 1 on, and that will benefit all our receivers. It's amazing we functioned at all last year with 2 rookies on the OL, no FB, rookie QB & RB, everyone learning the offense, new staff, etc. When you step back and realize we went 14-3 + 3 playoff wins under those circumstances, there's a lot to be proud of, weak schedule or not.

Raridon has all the tools to succeed, including run & pass-blocking skills, and I expect big things out of him and this offense.

 

[condon84]

I think he's gonna be a stud. Drake likes to throw deep balls and Raridon excelled going deep in the college. He certainly has the physical attributes to exploit shorter and slower LBs. I love this pick.

 

[mgteich]

That's a stupid question. It implies something I did not say and completely ignores the point of what I -did- say.

"I mean, Gronk's injury profile was worse coming out and he worked out pretty well."

I apologize. I thought that I responded to what you said.

My point is that sometimes things work out, no matter how improbable. Sure, there are players who did well after an injury history.

 

[scott99]

"I mean, Gronk's injury profile was worse coming out and he worked out pretty well."

I apologize. I thought that I responded to what you said.

My point is that sometimes things work out, no matter how improbable. Sure, there are players who did well after an injury history.

Gronk’s college stats vs Raridon’s college stats

Gronk

[th]

Career​

[/th]​

[td]

22​

[/td][td]

75​

[/td][td]

1197​

[/td][td]

16.0​

[/td][td]

16​

[/td]​

Raridon

[th]

Career​

[/th]​

[td]

40​

[/td][td]

48​

[/td][td]

623​

[/td][td]

13.0​

[/td][td]

3​

[/td]​

Gronk was pretty established. Difference was Gronk missed all of 2009, whereas Raridon played a full final season.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Not going to lie I wanted both Raridon and M Fields for Maye... serious height and catch radius for both.

Raridon participated in all of the RAS events, including the Agility where he was only Good not Elite. If he had skipped the Agility portion, which a lot of prospects did, his RAS would have been higher than 9.46, more like 9.6+. Raridon has a great attitude and great athleticism. He will not be Gronk, but should be a good one.

 

[scott99]

Raridon participated in all of the RAS events, including the Agility where he was only Good not Elite. If he had skipped the Agility portion, which a lot of prospects did, his RAS would have been higher than 9.46, more like 9.6+. Raridon has a great attitude and great athleticism. He will not be Gronk, but should be a good one.

Hopefully he’ll be another Hunter Henry, that would be worth the 95th pick. He has so many great measurables and you can see in the highlights what he COULD be. If he lives up to his potential, he’ll be a good TE in this league.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Hopefully he’ll be another Hunter Henry, that would be worth the 95th pick. He has so many great measurables and you can see in the highlights what he COULD be. If he lives up to his potential, he’ll be a good TE in this league.

I agree but I think he could be a bit more than Henry. His arms and hand size are like Gronk, and catching the ball in traffic is critical for a TE. I think Maye is accurate enough to place the ball as long as the TE can adjust and catch it. I think Raridon will be better at off body catches than Henry (which importance is overlooked).

 

[rochrist]

Hopefully he’ll be another Hunter Henry, that would be worth the 95th pick. He has so many great measurables and you can see in the highlights what he COULD be. If he lives up to his potential, he’ll be a good TE in this league.

He should be a better blocker than Henry. Not Gronk, but better than Hunter, at least after a year.

 

[rochrist]

"I mean, Gronk's injury profile was worse coming out and he worked out pretty well."

I apologize. I thought that I responded to what you said.

My point is that sometimes things work out, no matter how improbable. Sure, there are players who did well after an injury history.

I misunderstood your post.

 

[Huckleberry1]

All three picks in the first three rounds are about potential. Whereas the last 2 years, they tried immediate plug and play, didn’t work out very well except for Maye and Campbell.

With Raridon, you never had the production, it’s always about potential. A 6’6” TE that runs a 4.62 and has huge hands and know how to box out defenders with help from his basketball background, it’s an exciting pick. Though he didn’t produce much, you can see what he can become if used correctly and used more than ND used him. Also, with good mentorship from Henry and the TE coach. Best case he can take over as TE#1 in 2027 when Henry leaves/retires.

Craig Woodson played the entire season, Henderson put up all most a thousand yards, Farmer was part of the DL rotation until the injury, and Borregales and Ashby played all season. Last years rookie class played more than any I can remember for a longtime

 

[Huckleberry1]

He should be a better blocker than Henry. Not Gronk, but better than Hunter, at least after a year.

I won't be surprised to see him playing in the slot. We could be looking at quite a few 3 TE sets.

 

[borisman]

I thought it was hilarious, at the end, when Bedard brought up Gronk, considering. I was thinking about that situation when he was talking "projection" and then he drops the Gronk sound bite.

 

[scott99]

I agree but I think he could be a bit more than Henry. His arms and hand size are like Gronk, and catching the ball in traffic is critical for a TE. I think Maye is accurate enough to place the ball as long as the TE can adjust and catch it. I think Raridon will be better at off body catches than Henry (which importance is overlooked).

Henry has been a really good TE pass catch wise for 10 years now. He’s helped 3 rookie QBs as being their security blankets Herbert, Mac Jones and Maye. He averages 51 catches a year and has been very good and consistent in that regard. Last year he tied his own career high in catches with 60 and had a career high 768 yards. Any team who drafts a TE to wind up with a guy similar the Henry.

That being said, he’s not really explosive, so he can get shut down in crucial situations. The SB was a good example. Hopefully a TE that runs a 4.62 can be more explosive.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Henry has been a really good TE pass catch wise for 10 years now. He’s helped 3 rookie QBs as being their security blankets Herbert, Mac Jones and Maye. He averages 51 catches a year and has been very good and consistent in that regard. Last year he tied his own career high in catches with 60 and had a career high 768 yards. Any team who drafts a TE to wind up with a guy similar the Henry.

That being said, he’s not really explosive, so he can get shut down in crucial situations. The SB was a good example. Hopefully a TE that runs a 4.62 can be more explosive.

I agree. But Raridon is a R3 guy, so I am bit hesitant to get too excited. His college output was good, not great, so we will see. Gronk's college stuff was not great either, but Gronk could separate enough and then shed tacklers. There is so much involved in what makes a great TE, we have to wait and see.