Patriots Draft Eli Raridon: A Tight End with Untapped Potential

On Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, New England chose Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon with the No. 95 overall pick. He was the ninth tight end taken overall and part of a record 17 tight ends selected within the first five rounds since the common-draft era began in 1967.

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Notre Dame has produced an NFL-ready tight end every year since Anthony Fasano was drafted in 2004, establishing a reputation for developing the position. Raridon entered the draft after four seasons at Notre Dame, overcoming two right-ACL tears—one in high school and another as a freshman. His football lineage includes father Scott Jr., an offensive lineman at Notre Dame (2002-05), and grandfather Scott Sr., a strength coach under Lou Holtz.

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• Eli Raridon – 22-year-old, 6-ft-6, 245 lb, 4.62-second 40-yard dash.

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• Eliot Wolf – Patriots executive vice president of player personnel.

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• Mike Denbrock – Notre Dame offensive coordinator/tight-ends coach.

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• Hunter Henry – Veteran Patriots tight end.

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• Julian Hill – Recent free-agent signing expected to start alongside Henry.

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Raridon logged 48 receptions and three touchdowns in his lone year as a starter. He measures 10¾-inch hands and an 80-inch wingspan. The Patriots ranked him higher than his ninth-overall draft position, viewing him as a “tremendous athlete” with “untapped potential.” Tight ends combined for a league-record 2,870 receptions last season, and 1,845 plays featured three or more tight ends—the most since ESPN began tracking in 2007.

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Patriots executive Eliot Wolf described Raridon as a versatile, all-around player who excels as a pass-catcher while willing to block. The organization expects him to begin the season as a backup to veteran Hunter Henry and newly signed Julian Hill, allowing him to acclimate to New England’s offensive system before earning a larger role.

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Analysts note that Raridon entered the draft with only one full season as a starter, labeling his upside as “untapped.” The limited sample size raises questions about his readiness to contribute immediately, prompting the Patriots to view him as a developmental prospect rather than an instant impact player.

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Modern NFL offenses increasingly rely on multiple tight ends; the record-setting league-wide receptions and three-TE formations underscore this trend. By adding a physically gifted, pass-oriented tight end, the Patriots aim to diversify their attack, improve red-zone efficiency, and sustain flexibility against varied defensive schemes.

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• “Eli has been conducting himself, for a long period of time, with the type of attitude and structure and understanding of living a professional life as anybody I've ever been around.” — Mike Denbrock, Notre Dame offensive coordinator/tight ends coach

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• “He just continued to get better and better and better. I think it's something that's been building and leads me to believe his best football is ahead of him, which is exciting.” — Mike Denbrock

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• “It starts with who he is as a person and his family. When I first met him [in 2024], he already operated like a professional. He was very focused on what he wanted to get accomplished and had a plan to make it happen.” — Mike Denbrock

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• “He grew more comfortable in a leadership role as the season progressed, and because he was most often where he was supposed to be on passing plays, he really became kind of our young starting quarterback's best friend as the season went along because he knew he was someone he could count on.” — Mike Denbrock

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Raridon participated in the Patriots’ rookie minicamp, where coaches emphasized fundamentals and positional drills. He will join the full training camp in July, competing for snaps behind Henry and Hill. Observers will watch his integration into New England’s pass-heavy schemes and potential contributions in preseason games.

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