Eli Raridon Just Went to the Patriots in Round 3, and That Pick Tells You Everything About Their Draft Strategy

The Patriots' 2026 draft class is getting absolutely torn apart by the national media. They landed the 19th highest grade overall, with six C+ or lower marks and zero A's. But here's the thing: GM Eliot Wolf made one calculated swing in the middle rounds that could define whether this entire rookie class actually works.

That swing was Eli Raridon, the tight end selected at No. 95. And if you're wondering why a TE in Round 3 matters this much, you're about to find out.

Wolf Moved Around Early to Land His Guys

Wolf stockpiled picks in the middle rounds and used them to move up for OT Caleb Lomu and Edge Gabe Jacas. Those were the flashy trades. But then he sat tight at No. 95 and grabbed a player at a position of need. The position he targeted isn't fancy. It's not going to make SportsCenter. But it's critical.

The Patriots haven't properly invested in the tight end position since the draft disasters of 2020, when they burned two picks on Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene in Round 3. That's six years of neglect at a spot that demands real talent. With Hunter Henry at the position and only role players like Julian Hill available as backups, Raridon will have a legitimate shot to establish himself as a dual-threat, in-line tight end who can actually block.

The Red Flag That Shouldn't Be a Deal-Breaker

Here's why Raridon fell on some boards: he tore his ACL twice. Once in high school. Once as a freshman at Notre Dame. But since that second injury, he's been rock solid. Sixteen games in 2024. Twelve games last year (the Irish got robbed of their CFB playoff berth and then bailed on the Pop-Tart Bowl). Clean health since freshman year at Notre Dame.

The testing numbers are NFL-caliber. The film shows a very good athlete. And the blocking ability is there from Day 1, which matters because Josh McDaniels wants to lean on jumbo packages and a more consistent run game in 2026.

Why This Pick Sticks

The national media has compared Raridon to one of the all-time greats at the position, but Wolf got him 19 years after the last Notre Dame player landed in New England. That legacy dynamic, combined with the talent and the measurables, makes this the boom-or-bust pick that will define whether this draft class actually looks smart come December.

If Raridon produces, Wolf looks like a genius for waiting. If he doesn't, well, that's what happens when you swing for upside in the middle rounds.

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