Eli Raridon is a 22-year-old 6’6, 245-pound tight end out of Notre Dame. A native of Iowa, he entered college as a four-star recruit and the No.2 player in the state. Raridon faced early adversity, suffering two ACL tears in his right knee within a 10-month span. The first tear occurred during his senior season of high school, while the second occurred only five games into his first year with the Fighting Irish. He returned the following year, appearing in seven games, recording five receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t until his senior season that he fully emerged, starting all 12 games, totaling 32 catches for 482 yards, finishing tied for third on the team in both categories.
Raridon remains athletic for his size, possessing a long frame with room to add on – something that should further enhance his versatility. He posted a 4.62-second 40-yard dash, a 36-inch vertical, and a total combine score of 71. His top-end speed is average, but he has the ability to stretch the field vertically with momentum. He could improve his stride fluidity, but maintains good balance throughout his routes and shows explosiveness off the line to generate vertical push. Raridon displays strong processing and awareness, particularly in zone coverage, where he consistently identifies soft spots and knows when to throttle down. He uses early head movement effectively and works back to the football, gaining positional advantage over defenders. He plays with competitive toughness, showing no hesitation working the middle of the field.
As a blocker, Raridon demonstrates good hand usage and sound technique, consistently working his hands inside defenders’ shoulder pads to establish leverage. He maintains good balance and runs his feet through contact to sustain blocks, displaying the grit and tenacity needed for an in-line role. However, he could add more muscle to his tall frame to generate more power at the point of attack. He can also improve his ability to adjust to moving defenders in space for blocking recognition. In the passing game, he continues to show strong zone feel, recognizing defensive drops and settling into cushions of space. His route tree is somewhat limited, featuring mainly short-area routes, but he can push vertically and attack seams with underrated build-up speed. After the catch, he provides decent production, occasionally gaining extra yards through effort and size, though his frame can limit his ability to break tackles. He offers a wide catch radius and is a reliable target in traffic, frequently winning contested catches. While his hands are generally strong, he could improve his catch quickness and has shown minor drop consistencies when transitioning upfield too quickly.
In conclusion, Raridon is a tall, athletic tight end with strong zone awareness and sneaky vertical ability. He plays with balance and toughness both as a receiver and blocker, winning contested situations and sustaining effort through contact. While he needs to add muscle, expand his route tree, and improve fluidity, his combination of size, awareness, and athleticism gives him intriguing upside as a versatile tight-end.
Scheme and Team Fit
Raridon projects as a traditional “Y” tight end, best utilized when attached to the line of scrimmage. He wins as an inline blocker with the size to seal edges and sustain blocks. Schematically, he fits well in offenses that use bootleg and “leak” concepts, where he can sell the run before slipping into short zones as a reliable outlet. As he continues to develop physically and gain experience, this role should only expand.
The Green Bay Packers stand out as a potential fit, as they have shown a need for more consistent tight end depth. Their offensive scheme aligns well with Raridon’s strengths, particularly in play-action.
NFL Player Comparison: Dalton Schultz (Houston Texans)
Raridon compares well to Schultz, displaying good versatility in the run game with a strong feel for zone. Both thrive on “leak” and bootleg plays off the line, while possessing sneaky ability to get vertical. Raridon also projects as a viable red zone option, with a usage profile similar to how Schultz is deployed. As blockers, both bring solid technique, hand placement, and tenacity making them viable in-line players even if they aren’t dominant movers.
Projection: Low End Starter
It is unlikely Raridon will be atop any teams depth chart immediately, however he profiles as a reliable TE2 who could contribute on 12 personnel packages. With continued development, he has the tools to grow into a dependable starter and could prove to be a draft-day value.
Grade and Round Projection: 4.6, Day 3 Pick.
Raridon adds strong rotational value, and should be considered in the early-to-middle portion of the tight-end class. His combine performance reinforced his athletic profile, making him an intriguing prospect whose draft stock is trending upward.
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