Patriots rookie tight end Eli Raridon can model his game after new teammate Hunter Henry
It’s hard not to notice the similarities in the career arcs of tight ends Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon.
Both dealt with severe knee injuries at a formative stage of their development. Both share roughly the same frame — Raridon is 6 feet 6 inches and 245 pounds, Henry is 6-5, 249. And both are multidimensional tight ends who work as blockers and pass catchers.
And now, following the season-ending knee injury to free agent pickup Julian Hill, Raridon figures to have the inside track as the primary backup to Henry this season.
If there’s a professional model for the third-round pick to follow, Henry is as good as any. Not an overwhelming offensive presence, Henry has been as steady as any skill-position player in the Patriots’ offense since he arrived in 2021, averaging 52 catches per season.
In the relatively short time Raridon has been in Foxborough, he’s garnered Henry’s respect.
“Eli’s doing a good job,” said Henry, who is entering the final year of his contract and will turn 32 in December. “It’s a lot coming in the league. Trying to blend in with older guys, younger guys, the pressure of it, obviously getting drafted.
“He’s been a sponge, trying to soak up as much as he can in the room, asking questions. He’s getting better day by day. I’m excited to continue to work with him.”
Raridon had 32 catches for 482 yards last season for Notre Dame. The numbers aren’t overwhelming, but if you’re looking for a Henry-like streak of dependability as a blocker and pass catcher, Raridon is your guy, according to Fighting Irish offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock,
Denbrock said Raridon — who has above-average athleticism (4.62 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and size (80-inch wingspan) — was sturdy enough to hold up as a blocker in the Irish running game last season, but also serve as a vertical threat. He worked primarily as a Y tight end, but also spent time in the slot, and his 15.1 yards per reception were second-best on the team among players with 10 or more catches.
“I think Eli is really unique in that he can provide the type of physical presence in the run game that I think can be relied on. He’s somebody that can contribute in that, hopefully very early for the Patriots,” said Denbrock.
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“And then he can also get vertically down the seam and run. I think he averaged over 15 yards of reception last year for us. And just that type of vertical presence from the tight end position can create a lot of explosiveness.”
Like Henry, Raridon has battled through a serious knee injury. The 22-year-old tore his right ACL twice; as a high schooler playing basketball in 2021 and during a non-contract drill at Notre Dame in 2022. Raridon said this spring he has “no real concerns” about his knee.
“I think being healthy the last two years in particular, I really saw him blossom and really across the board in all aspects of his game and really kind of fulfill the potential that we all saw when we were recruiting him,” Denbrock said.
If the growth of the last couple of seasons is any indication, Raridon should have an opportunity to see significant action as a rookie. Austin Hooper flourished as the second tight end in the New England offense the last two years with a combined 66 catches and five touchdowns.
With the season-ending knee injury to Hill, Raridon could end up being the Patriots’ most impactful player among the offensive skill-position players in this year’s draft class.
“Willing, conscientious, wants to learn,” coach Mike Vrabel said of Raridon. “I think there are a lot of new things coming from college. Terminology is different, and there are a lot of things that are new to him. But I would say that he picks things up quickly. When he is able to play with the speed that he has available to him in his body, that has kind of showed out.”
Henry’s steadiness and dependability made him an underrated but important part of the Patriots’ offense the last five seasons. Denbrock believes that if Raridon can continue to build that sort of consistency, the Patriots will be very happy with their choice.
“I think [Raridon], as a person, is one of the best I’ve ever had a chance to work with and really excited for the Patriots and for the fans there,” Denbrock said. “I think the sky’s the limit for him. I think his best football still lies ahead of him.”
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