Eli Raridon, TE Notre Dame: 2026 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Raridon was a four-star recruit from Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa in the class of 2022
Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon overcame a pair of right ACL injuries between his final high school days and early in his college career to showcase some impressive flashes in 2024. Raridon needs to put a lot on tape ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, but he appears to possess the athletic ability to eventually become a starter in the league.
Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.
Eli Raridon, TE Notre Dame: 2026 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Senior tight end from Des Moines, Iowa
Background: Raridon was a four-star recruit from Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa in the class of 2022. He was the No. 173 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 198 for Rivals, and No. 139 for On3.com. Raridon was an unranked four-star recruit for ESPN with an 80 grade out of 100. As a senior, he made 53 receptions for 627 yards and ten touchdowns. Raridon produced 22 catches for 237 yards and two touchdowns as a junior. He contributed to a 13-1 season and Iowa 4A State Championship runner-up finish as a sophomore. Raridon earned 2021 Elite All-Iowa Team honors. He was a Second Team All-State high flying dunker in basketball as a junior. Raridon’s father, Scott, played along the offensive line at Notre Dame in the early 2000s, and his uncle, John Raridon, played along the offensive line at Nebraska from 2016-2020.
Injuries & Off-Field: Suffered a torn right ACL as a high school senior playing basketball, re-tore right ACL in practice in October 2022
Awards: N/A
Overview: Raridon takes snaps in-line, the slot, and at H-back for the Fighting Irish. He pairs impressive height with arm length that appears to meet or surpass the league’s preferred thresholds. Due to his tall frame, Raridon carries 250 lbs. while still maintaining a lean build. The good news is there’s plenty of room for NFL strength and conditioning coaches to further develop his frame. Raridon lacks high end speed but moves well for a tight end with his size. He flashes enough burst early in his routes to overtake and stack some second level players and maintains speed downfield to cause chaos running seam routes. Defenses sometimes commit an extra defender over the top to keep a lid on Raridon and support the linebacker or nickel serving as his primary defender. The senior runs a very limited route tree because of his lack of volume and exposure, but he makes surprisingly sharp cuts that hint at him possessing the athleticism to run a diverse tree. Raridon enters 2025 with several concerning flags attached to his profile. He’s never been even a moderate contributor in the passing game, which leads to a lot of projecting about how he’ll perform as a primary pass catcher. Additionally, he needs to stay healthy to prove the two right ACL tears were fluke injuries that won’t lead to future issues. Raridon’s frame is high-cut, so he needs to add mass to his lower half. The Iowa native struggles to separate when contacted early in the route. His overall release package and route running are developmental. Raridon’s speed helps him threaten defenses downfield, but he looks uncomfortable or unaccustomed to operating deep downfield at times. Hopefully, more experience will naturally resolve some of these issues. Raridon uses a stiff arm to swat away defenders after the catch but lacks the play strength, burst, and dynamic athleticism to generate many yards after securing the reception. He looks faster on tape without the ball than he is with it. The former four-star recruit shows impressive potential as a run blocker. He aggressively attacks defenders, arriving with good power and maintaining a wide base to prevent easy breakthroughs. Raridon’s grip strength and sturdy core help him lockdown defenders when his hand placement and block framing are correct. He also makes an impact on down blocks and on the backside of run plays. Raridon sometimes fails to maximize his arm length and allows the defender into his chest. He lacks a developed set of hand counters to disrupt bull rushes. Sometimes power rushers knock him back on contact and quickly force him to re-anchor. Raridon’s size and pad level limit the effectiveness of his leg drive and ability to generate vertical displacement.
Overall, Raridon possesses unique athleticism for a tall tight end and still makes a notable impact in the run game despite having his weight distributed across such a long frame. Raridon projects as a depth tight end early in his career but has the potential to be a top 80 selection if he thrives as a featured option in 2025.
Role & Scheme Fit: Developmental Y tight end with slot versatility
Round Grade: Fifth Round
Size: 6'7", 251 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 04-13-25