Eli Raridon TE Notre Dame |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Scouting Report: Weaknesses

• Two torn ACLs on the same knee creates real medical red flags that team doctors need to dig into before anyone commits draft capital to this kid.
• Gets too tall in his stance when blocking, letting shorter defenders get underneath his pads and knock him backward when they come with power.
• Route tree remains pretty limited from lack of reps, looks uncomfortable when asked to run option routes or make adjustments on the fly mid-play.
• Doesn't make much happen after the catch with below-average change of direction and balance through contact, gets tracked down from behind too often for comfort.
• Needs to pack serious weight onto those legs and hips to hold up blocking defensive ends every down, currently too slight for consistent pass protection duties.

Scouting Report: Summary

Watch enough tape on Raridon and you see a tight end who can contribute right away in specific packages while developing into something more substantial with proper coaching and strength work. His length and ball skills create real matchup problems attacking the middle of the field against zone coverage, exactly the type of weapon coordinators love deploying on second-and-six to generate explosive plays. The blocking has come far enough that he won't hurt you out there, though asking him to consistently stone defensive ends one-on-one right now might be asking too much. Medical evaluation determines everything with this kid, but assuming doctors sign off on those knees, you're getting a tight end who can handle three-down work within a couple years.

Raridon fits best in offenses that value vertical passing concepts and deploy multiple tight end sets where his blocking doesn't need to be elite every snap. Teams running heavy play-action will love how he threatens safeties deep and opens up underneath throwing windows. That size and catch radius make him a legit red zone weapon who can win contested catches, though he's more effective running past linebackers than boxing out defensive backs in tight quarters. Organizations that use athletic tight ends primarily as receiving weapons while mixing in enough blocking to stay balanced will maximize what he brings. Needs patience early to add functional strength and expand his route repertoire, but the athletic foundation and competitive streak suggest the investment pays off.

Can't ignore the injury history during evaluations, and some teams will simply pass because two ACL tears on the same knee represent too much risk regardless of what the medical staff says. For organizations comfortable with the reports, Raridon represents solid value as a developmental Y tight end with slot versatility who provides immediate contributions as a receiving weapon. His ceiling depends entirely on how much quality weight he can add without losing his movement skills and whether those knees hold up under NFL punishment. The tape shows enough to warrant a selection somewhere in the fourth or fifth round range, understanding that patience will be required before he becomes a true every-down player. Basketball background suggests the body control and spatial awareness needed at the position, while his football bloodlines indicate he understands offensive line nuances better than most tight ends. Won't be a star, but he can absolutely carve out a productive NFL career if the medical checks clear and he commits to the weight room work required to maximize that unique frame.