Patriots Add Eli Raridon As TE Depth

By Jody Smith | Updated on Sat, Apr 25 2026 3:40 AM UTC

The New England Patriots selected Notre Dame TE Eli Raridon in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Son of former Notre Dame OL Scott Raridon, Eli was a four-star recruit who followed his Dad’s footsteps to the Fighting Irish. Raridon suffered knee injuries in both his first and second season at Notre Dame. He served in a reserve role behind Mitchell Evans in 2024, but stayed fully healthy. He took over the starting job in 2025, going 32-482-0. He shows a combination of blocking and receiving prowess that could turn into fantasy upside. Among the 27 TEs invited to the NFL Combine, Raridon ranked ninth in 2025 aDOT (8.1), and eighth in team market share of receiving yards (19.6%). He ranked fourth in 2025 receiving yards per team pass attempt (1.8) and third in receiving yards per route run (2.23). He is currently 22 years old.

What They're Saying

Dane Brugler, The Athletic (The Beast): “Overall, Raridon is still figuring things out, but he gets to top gear quickly and has promising ball skills and blocking chops. His college tape shows the building blocks of an intriguing pro-level tight end, although the medicals will influence his draft projection.”

2026 Fantasy Football Impact

Raridon looks like a good fit as an in-line option for the Patriots. He combines competent blocking with enough pass-catching potential to earn an immediate role as the No. 2 to Hunter Henry if he can beat out Julian Hill.

Austin Hooper departed for Atlanta, but posted a 45-476-3 line in that role in 2024.

If Raridon can hold his own as a blocker, he should earn immediate playing time. He's off the redrat radar, but has some late-round appeal as a No. 3 option in TE-premium formats.

Dynasty Impact

Hunter Henry is 31 and set to be a free agent after the 2026 season.

If Raridon wins the No. 2 job, he could contend for fantasy TE2 numbers as early as 2027 if Henry signs elsewhere.

Target Raridon as a late-round stash in TE-premium dynasty leagues. He's a Round 4/5 target in rookie drafts.

Jody Smith, Analyst

Jody Smith has been playing fantasy football for over 30 years, the last 15 as an analyst, writer, and editor. Jody's rankings have been among the most consistent, placing him inside the top-10 in multi-year accuracy.