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Tight end Eli Raridon during Notre Dame football's Pro Day at Irish Athletic Center on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in South Bend. | MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The New England Patriots made some investments in their tight end position this offseason, including choosing Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon with the 95th overall pick in the third round of the draft. Shortly thereafter, Raridon was among the first wave of Patriots selections to put their signatures under their rookie deals.
In total, Raridon signed a four-year pact through 2029 that includes a base value of just under $6.75 million. Here is how it breaks down in detail.
TE Eli Raridon: Contract details
Base value: $6,748,712
Maximum value: TBD
Guarantees: $1,368,152
Signing bonus: $1,368,152
2026 (age 22):
Base salary: $885,000
Signing bonus: $1,368,152
Salary cap hit: $1,227,038
2027 (age 23):
Base salary: $1,191,760
Signing bonus: $1,368,152
Salary cap hit: $1,533,798
2028 (age 24):
Base salary: $1,498,520
Signing bonus: $1,368,152
Salary cap hit: $1,840,558
2029 (age 25):
Base salary: $1,805,280
Signing bonus: $1,368,152
Salary cap hit: $2,147,318
This is a standard deal for draft picks, particularly those from the third round on. Raridon’s salary will increase annually by 25% of his 2026 cap hit, meaning a yearly jump of $306,760. None of those salaries are guaranteed, however, with only his signing bonus totaling roughly $1,37 million prorated over four years, falling in that category.
Consequently, the only money to remain on the books should he get cut at some point is the combined remainder of that bonus. In general, whether or not he will remain with the team through until the pact runs out in the spring of 2030, is one of the only real uncertainties with his deal.
Another is that there is no clarity yet about the eventual maximum cash intake. The league’s performance escalator program, after all, might end up increasing his base salary and cap hit for the 2029 season depending on his playing time and output over his first three seasons in the league.
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