Patriots Select Tight End Eli Raridon With 95th Overall Pick

The New England Patriots selected Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon with the 95th overall pick late in the third round in the 2026 NFL draft on Friday evening. All four of Raridon's collegiate seasons came with the Fighting Irish, and he accumulated 48 catches for 623 yards and only three touchdowns in his 40 total games. The 22-year-old dealt with some knee injuries early in his collegiate career, but he was healthy in his junior and senior seasons and had 32 receptions for a career-high 482 yards in 12 games in 2025, although he didn't score a single touchdown. At the very least, the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder will give young quarterback Drake Maye a big target in the passing attack next to Hunter Henry after Austin Hooper left in free agency this offseason. Raridon should enter his rookie season as the TE2 in New England behind Henry as the Pats look to get back to the Super Bowl. Raridon is developing as a pass-catcher. He won't be on the fantasy radar in redraft leagues unless Henry misses time with an injury.

Source: NFL.com