Eli Raridon Is Everything the Patriots Need and Nobody's Talking About Why He's the Real Draft Winner

Look, the Patriots draft class is getting mixed reviews. The pundits gave them the 19th highest grade overall. Six grades of C+ or lower, only three A-minuses, and zero A's. But here's the thing: that's actually fine with me, because it beats the unearned confidence that came with the 2019 draft.

Eliot Wolf did something smart this year. He stockpiled picks in the middle rounds, used them to move up for OT Caleb Lomu and Edge Gabe Jacas, then sat tight at No. 95 and grabbed his guy at a position of need. That guy is tight end Eli Raridon, and I genuinely think the entire Patriots Rookie Class of 2026 is going to live or die based on what this kid becomes.

The Setup Is Perfect

The Patriots have Hunter Henry and some role players like blocking TE Julian Hill, but Raridon is getting every opportunity to establish himself as a classic dual threat, in-line tight end. That position has been neglected since the 2020 disasters of Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. This is Wolf's big swing. The kind of boom or bust pick we'll all be looking back at in December to grade this entire draft.

Lomu redshirts behind Morgan Moses while putting in work in the weight room. Jacas becomes the lesser part of an edge rusher package that already has Harold Landry III and Dre'Mont Jones. Meanwhile, Raridon gets the nod to prove himself.

Why He's Slept On and Why That Matters

The national media compared him to you know who. That name. Most draft intelligentsia couldn't figure out why he wasn't ranking higher on boards when he checks every single box and hits every measurable. The answer? ACL tears. One in high school, one as a freshman at Notre Dame.

But here's what matters: he hasn't missed a game since. Sixteen games in 2024. Twelve last year (and yeah, Notre Dame got hosed out of the CFB playoff berth they deserved). That injury history is exactly why Gronk was still on the board at No. 42 back in the day. On Day 1, Raridon is already an NFL-caliber blocker. He's a very good athlete in both testing and on film. That blocking ability is what keeps him on the field as Josh McDaniels builds Jumbo packages and tries to make the run game more consistent in 2026.

The Next Pats Folk Hero

Typical Patriots folk heroes are undersized, undervalued, overlooked overachievers. Marcus Jones. Efton Chism. Julian Edelman. Danny Woodhead. You don't usually pin that label on a freakishly athletic 6-6, 245 pound guy from a major program. But I can't shake the sense Raridon is going to be the next one. The guy generating jersey sales by Christmas 2026, or the year after if they bring him along slow. This kid is going to be the Pats' next great tight end and fan favorite. You've heard it here first.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.