Karen Guregian of MassLive is one of the best and most respected reporters on the New England Patriots beat. When she writes something or makes a connection, it’s informed by multiple people in the building.
So how seriously should Patriots fans take the buzz building around third-round rookie tight end Eli Raridon? With Guregian throwing around comparisons like Rob Gronkowski and George Kittle, it’s hard not to get carried away with an untapped prospect like Raridon, who possesses the size, traits, and athleticism needed to be a difference-maker in Josh McDaniels’ offense.
Raridon told Patriots reporters that he models his game after Kittle, who’s been one of the most dominant two-way tight ends in the NFL over the past decade. For the 49ers, Kittle played over 1,000 offensive snaps in three consecutive seasons, per Pro Football Focus, rarely leaving the field thanks to his prowess as both a blocker and receiver.
Raridon’s NFL traits? Those are Gronk-like, according to Guregian. Gronkowski’s versatility to align all over the formation at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds and create mismatches (especially down the seams) was devastating for opposing defenses. It’s possible that McDaniels identified a modern-day Gronk for his offense in Raridon, who at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds ran a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Guregian quoted Raridon’s tight ends coach at Notre Dame, Mike Denbrock, to help drive her point home.
“Obviously, Coach McDaniels does an unbelievable job using tight ends, and understanding how important they are to not only NFL football, but all football,” Denbrock said, via Guregian. “Eli has those exact traits that transfer very well. He can hold up against the bigger personnel in the run game, and he can also get out into space and make plays.”
The Patriots may have found another dangerous mismatch at tight end
Gronkowski has a chance to be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible next year, so even harmless comparisons like this to Raridon’s skill set are a serious stretch.
Patriots fans also shouldn’t simply write off Raridon due to his unimpressive college production and injury history.
In 2010, Bill Belichick took a shot on Gronkowski’s freakish athletic profile with a second-round pick despite him missing the entire 2009 season with a bad back injury. Gronkowski had a strong sophomore year at Arizona with 47 receptions, 672 yards, and 10 touchdowns, but he was considered a major risk at the time, especially with a top-50 pick.
You could make the exact same case for the Mike Vrabel regime with Raridon, who re-tore the ACL in his right knee during the 2022 season. He gradually worked his way back onto the field for Notre Dame, and his overall college production suffered as a result. In 2025, he caught 32 passes for 482 scoreless yards for the run-heavy Fighting Irish.
This is just further proof that NFL teams don’t draft based on college statistics. They rely on measurables and what they see on tape, and Raridon offers similar value and upside in that regard as Gronkowski. That’s where the real comparison stems from.
Will Raridon step right into a premium role and catch 10 touchdown passes as a rookie, like Gronkowski did in 2010? That feels like a long shot at best.
But with Hunter Henry entering his age-32 season and Austin Hooper now in Atlanta, the Patriots needed more youth, explosiveness, and toughness in their tight end room. Gronk brought all of that and more immediately upon arrival. In that regard, Raridon has a real chance to be the Patriots’ biggest steal of the 2026 draft.
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