The New England Patriots selected Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon with the No. 95 pick, aiming to rebuild depth after losing Austin Hooper.
The New England Patriots added another weapon for Drake Maye on Friday night by selecting Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon in the 2026 NFL Draft.
New England chose Raridon with the No.. 95 pick, making it their first selection in this draft that came without a trade up.. The Patriots had already used trades to land offensive tackle Caleb Lomu in the first round and edge rusher Gabe Jacas in the second. signaling a clear theme: improve the trenches and the pressure package first. then add playmaking and position-specific depth as the board continued to fall.
Raridon. a 6-foot-7. 251-pound tight end. brings a mix of length and athletic traits that fits the profile of a modern NFL “Y-type” tight end—one who can win vertically. work the middle of the field. and also contribute in the run game.. At the NFL Scouting Combine. he posted a 36-inch vertical leap and ran a 4.62 in the 40-yard dash. numbers that suggest he can threaten defenses beyond the hash marks rather than simply operating as a traditional red-zone blocker.
The Patriots’ decision also reflects a roster reality they faced in free agency.. New England lost Austin Hooper, leaving a tighter gap behind their top option.. Hunter Henry is set to turn 32 in December, and Julian Hill’s production has been limited at the NFL level.. With Henry having led the team in targets in 2024 and finishing second in 2025. the Patriots have leaned on him as a frequent passing option—but they still needed to secure more depth and variety at tight end.
Raridon’s role could become more defined quickly because the Patriots aren’t drafting him as a luxury.. They’re drafting him as an upside piece who can complement Henry’s established presence.. Henry has been a reliable target for Maye. and pairing him with a rangier. athletic tight end creates more matchup problems: defenders can’t just key on one route tree or one style of usage.
At Notre Dame. Raridon’s college résumé showed flashes of impact even if it didn’t come with a massive statistical footprint.. He totaled 623 yards over three seasons and scored three career touchdowns. with the majority of his starts arriving late in his college career.. Last season. he started 12 of 14 games. evidence that the coaching staff trusted him as the offense asked more of the position.
The question New England will have to answer over the next season or two is how quickly Raridon can round out his game for the NFL’s physical demands.. Several draft-focused evaluations point to an obvious development area: strength.. Blocking is often the separator between a player who is “a good athlete” and a player who earns consistent snaps on third downs and in two-minute situations.. Whether Raridon can physically hold up as an inline option. secure leverage in the run game. and take on tougher assignments will heavily influence his path to becoming a true three-down contributor.
Still, his potential is tied to more than size and speed.. With his frame. he has shown the ability to make contested catches—an underrated trait for quarterbacks like Maye. who often benefit from receivers who can win at the point of attack.. If Raridon’s route running and timing sharpen at the professional level. that contested skill can translate into a practical advantage: more completions in tight coverage and more plays that sustain drives.
There’s also a familiar thread in Raridon’s story that extends beyond the field.. His father played offensive line at Notre Dame. and his grandfather worked as a strength coach on Lou Holtz’s 1988 national title staff.. New England now has him in the system. adding a sense of lineage and preparation that fans often associate with players who understand what it takes to keep developing through the grind of an NFL season.