Eli Raridon

NFL Draft Profile: Eli Raridon

Position: Tight End | School: Notre Dame | Class: Senior

Height: 6'7" | Weight: 252 lbs | Archetype: Receiving / Hybrid

College Career Summary

Eli Raridon’s career at Notre Dame is a testament to resilience. A blue-chip recruit with "unicorn" athleticism, his first two seasons were marred by two ACL tears in the span of 10 months. After a developmental junior year in 2024, Raridon entered the 2025 season as the primary TE1 following Mitchell Evans' departure to the NFL.

In 2025, Raridon finally showcased the elite traits that made him a top recruit. Despite playing in a run-heavy Notre Dame offense and breaking in a young quarterback, Raridon became a vertical seam threat and a reliable chain-mover. While his touchdown numbers were limited by Notre Dame's goal-line rushing dominance, his yardage-per-catch (15.1) led all qualified independent/major tight ends for much of the season. He finished his career as a leader in the locker room and a premier "comeback" story in college football.

2025 Stats Highlights

• Receptions: 32 | Receiving Yards: 482 | TDs: 0

• Average: 15.1 YPC (Elite vertical efficiency)

• Drops: 4 (Early season focus issues, but improved significantly by November).

• Career Summary: 48 Rec, 623 Yds, 3 TD (Production heavily weighted toward 2025).

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Stats (Rec/Yds/TD)	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	@ Miami (FL)	5 / 97 / 0	A-	The Apex. Showed no lingering injury effects with a 65-yard sprint.
3	vs Texas A&M	4 / 85 / 0	A	Deployed as a vertical weapon; 43-yard gain changed the momentum.
5	@ Arkansas	2 / 43 / 0	B+	High-effort blocking in a blowout; reliable on long-developing routes.
6	vs Boise State	2 / 8 / 0	C+	Quiet receiving day; focused primarily on sealing edges for the run.
7	vs NC State	7 / 109 / 0	A+	Masterclass. First career 100-yard game; total mismatch for LBs.
8	vs USC	1 / 5 / 0	C	Worst Game. Limited targets in a defensive slugfest; 1 drop.
10	@ Boston College	3 / 59 / 0	B+	Dominant in the 3rd quarter; set up a TD with a 30-yard catch.
12	@ Pittsburgh	6 / 67 / 0	A-	High-volume underneath work; showcased improved route nuance.
13	vs Syracuse	0 / 0 / 0	B	Pure blocking role; helped the Irish rush for over 300 yards.
14	@ Stanford	2 / 9 / 0	B-	Solid technical game; did the "dirty work" in a rivalry win.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Leadership: Senior leader who mentored a young TE room; highly respected vocal presence.

• Mental Toughness: Elite. Overcame two ACL tears; the "unflappable" heart of the offense.

• Competitor: Plays every snap like it's his last; high-intensity blocker.

• Team Player: Never complained about 0 TDs; prioritized the Irish rushing attack.

• Star Power: High; a 6'7" athlete who "plays big" in big moments.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 95/100

• Height/Weight: 6'7", 252 lbs. (Exceeds all physical benchmarks).

• Stamina: Good; rarely leaves the field in 12-personnel heavy packages.

• Durability/Injury History: The Major Question. Medically cleared and played a full 2025, but two prior ACL tears will be the focus of NFL Combine re-checks.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 90/100

• Catching: Very good; massive wingspan and natural "pluck" ability.

• Route Running: Deceptively fluid for a 6'7" frame; masters the "seam" and "crosser."

• Strength: Excellent; translates weight room power to the point of attack.

• Blocking: High-End. Improved drastically in 2025; technically sound in-line.

• Release: Efficient; uses long levers to keep defenders out of his frame.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Speed: 4.62 (Estimated). Elite "long-strider" speed; outruns safeties once he builds steam.

• Agility: Surprisingly fluid; basketball background shows in his footwork.

• Jumping: Elite. High-point specialist; "above the rim" rebounder mentality.

• Acceleration: Build-up speed; takes a second to get those long legs moving.

• Break Tackle: Strong; falls forward and uses a punishing stiff-arm.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 96/100

• Awareness: Exceptional; processes the field like an offensive lineman (son of a coach).

NFL Scouting Report

• Strengths: Rare combination of 6'7" height and vertical speed; elite catch radius; highly disciplined and technical in-line blocker; extreme mental toughness and character; NFL bloodlines (father played at ND).

• Weaknesses: Substantial medical history (two ACLs); "long" frame can sometimes lead to pad-level issues in blocking; lacks the "short-area twitch" of smaller move-TEs.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal Traditional Y-Tight End with vertical seam upside (e.g., Eagles, Colts, Chargers).

• NFL Comparison: Kyle Rudolph (with more speed) / Mike Gesicki (hybrid).

Scout's Final Word

"Eli Raridon is the 'prototype' NFL tight end. You cannot teach 6'7" with 4.6 speed. While his injury history will require a deep dive by team doctors, his 2025 tape showed a player who has regained his confidence and lateral explosion. He is the best in-line blocker in the 'receiving' tier of this class. If the medicals are green, he’s a foundational offensive piece."

Draft Projection: Round 2–3 (Medical cleared). Round 4-5 (Medical not cleared)