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New England Patriots rookie tight end Eli Raridon is impressing offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, as the playmaker looks to get integrated into the offense.
Raridon was drafted in the third round with the 95th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is expected to compete for playing time right out of the gate. With Patriots' veteran Julian Hill going down with a season-ending injury, that could elevate Raridon to the No. 2 tight end role behind veteran Hunter Henry.
Although the team has yet to practice in pads, McDaniels has seen enough at the spring practices to feel confident about Raridon's transition to the NFL level.
“The rookies are still in the pool. They’re swimming a little bit, which is to be expected at this point," McDaniels told media members. "He’s making progress, learning something new every day. …Eli has a good attitude and approach, and he’s coming out trying to get better every day.”
Raridon could be a player who sees ample playing time right away.
Granted, there is still time for the Patriots to add help at the tight end position in free agency. It will all depend on how much they trust Raridon to handle in his first NFL season.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots OC Josh McDaniels' grounded thoughts on rookie TE Eli Raridon
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Raridon was drafted in the third round with the 95th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is expected to compete for playing time right out of the gate. With Patriots' veteran Julian Hill going down with a season-ending injury, that could elevate Raridon to the No. 2 tight end role behind veteran Hunter Henry.
Although the team has yet to practice in pads, McDaniels has seen enough at the spring practices to feel confident about Raridon's transition to the NFL level.
“The rookies are still in the pool. They’re swimming a little bit, which is to be expected at this point," McDaniels told media members. "He’s making progress, learning something new every day. …Eli has a good attitude and approach, and he’s coming out trying to get better every day.”
Raridon could be a player who sees ample playing time right away.
Granted, there is still time for the Patriots to add help at the tight end position in free agency. It will all depend on how much they trust Raridon to handle in his first NFL season.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots OC Josh McDaniels' grounded thoughts on rookie TE Eli Raridon
Continue reading...
