The New England Patriots stuck to the proper script with their first three picks in the 2026 NFL draft. They drafted for need positions in the correct order. First came a top offensive tackle, Caleb Lomu.
Then they took Illinois' sack-producing edge (11 in 2025), Gabe Jacas, in the second round. In the third round, they selected a less-heralded tight end, Eli Raridon from Notre Dame. One good optic is that Raridon told local reporters he looks to model his game after the 49ers' great, George Kittle.
Regardless, Raridon is on board, and the 6'6", 245-pounder will be called upon to bolster the tight end room with both his blocking and pass-catching skills. If he can approximate the exploits of Kittle, he'll be a true find.
Yet, reaching for a player in the third round smacks of a strategy employed by Bill Belichick, and that didn't work out very well in his last few seasons.
Eli Raridon has a ways to go to come close to George Kittle
Eli Raridon had a decent season for the Fighting Irish in 2025 with 32 catches for 482 yards. Yet, he has a long way to go to come close to the man he models his game on, George Kittle.
The 49ers great, probably ticketed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is a seven-time Pro Bowler.
Eli Raridon says he embodies his game after George Kittle due to his ability to make plays as a blocker and pass catcher.
— Brian Hines (@iambrianhines) April 25, 2026
Raridon will be the Patriots' third tight end in 2026 after Hunter Henry and blocking tight end specialist Julian Hill. Any injury to the 31-year-old Henry will likely thrust the young Raridon right into the action in Foxborough.
NFL.com highlights his potential to make an impact in the NFL,
"Projects as a “Y” tight end with the ability to play and produce on all three downs. In the pros, Raridon might spend more time with his hand in the ground than he did at Notre Dame. He blocks with solid technique and good tenacity but still needs to add muscle mass to his long frame.
He also has sneaky build-up speed and ball skills to make catches down the field. Raridon needs more experience but is an ascending talent..."
The Patriots made a solid positional pick in taking a tight end with their third pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Yet, Raridon can be considered a reach, and that is seldom a good thing.
It will be up to the tight end to measure up, especially if the aging Henry is dinged up. If that happens, the Patriots will find out in a hurry whether their reach made sense. They usually don't.
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