When looking at the Patriots' rookie class, most of the discussion has centered on first-round offensive lineman Caleb Lomu and the ongoing standoff between the team and second-round pass rusher Gabe Jacas.
The rest of the class has mostly taken a backseat to the highest selections, with tight end Eli Raridon gaining a bit more steam since the start of training camp.
It's not exactly surprising, given the lack of pure excitement over the incoming class, but it does force analysts and fans to pay attention to every new addition to the team, and maybe give some of the more overlooked players a bit of the spotlight, which now includes UDFA tight end Tanner Arkin.
Although Raridon has received a lot of praise over the past few months, as he continues to look like the TE2 right behind Hunter Henry, the former University of Illinois tight end has been catching the attention of onlookers since training camp has ramped up, and he could be carving a role for himself as the first backup in the tight end room, which is exactly what the Patriots need.
Even better is that he's thriving in a role most wouldn't pay much mind to, but it's becoming increasingly important to the team's offense, particularly in Julian Hill's absence due to a season-ending injury.
Another undrafted player is on his way to becoming an integral part of the Patriots' roster
One of the most concerning groups on the Patriots' roster right now is the tight end room, largely due to their lack of depth and experience. We know that Henry will remain the top option for Drake Maye, but beyond the veteran are a bunch of question marks.
Raridon has risen to the occasion so far, and expectations continue to increase as time goes on, which is significant given that they didn't re-sign Austin Hooper in free agency. And now we're seeing Arkin starting to get the same kind of attention, just in a blocking role instead.
Because Raridon isn't known as a great blocker, that would be an aspect of the offense that would be lacking, particularly if Henry is expected to be Maye's target. That's where Arkin comes in, and he has started to prove he can be a reliable blocker alongside fullback Reggie Gilliam, and that might be his way to the 2026 roster.
His performance has started to gain more attention for the right reasons, and even Mike Vrabel had some good things to say about the rookie's future, which is a strong indicator of just how well he's doing despite being largely overlooked.
“The competitive spirit, going against Dre [Dre’Mont Jones] and Elijah [Ponder], trying to block, be consistent and be physical. He’s learned what to do quickly. I think sometimes, young players, when things start to pile on, they can slow down because they’re thinking a little bit. I haven’t seen that, so hopefully that continues.”
With a wide open door to walk through after Hill was removed from the lineup earlier this summer, it's clear that Arkin and Raridon are taking advantage of the opportunity.
Arkin, specifically, has been the most impressive, and he could easily step into the role that would have been Hill's had he not gotten injured. The veteran was projected to be an additional blocker for the run game and to help open things up for Henry, but now it looks like it's Arkin's job to lose.
There is still plenty of time for things to change, but given how close we are to the preseason, there's reason to believe that the rookie will only continue his rise and get more reps with the first-team offense if he can maintain the impressive performance he's shown thus far.
It will be an unexpected boost that the Patriots are fortunate to have fallen into after losing Hill, and Arkin could become a major difference-maker for the offense this fall.
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