Eli Raridon Draft Grade | Round 3, Pick 31 | FanVerdicts

D-

Bottom 12%Pick Grade

Pick Context

Market Value

Significant Reach

Position

TE · Standard Position

Decision Grade reflects market consensus at the moment of the pick. Teams often have private information the consensus does not.

Scouting Report

Big Board Rank: #151 · Day 3 Sleeper

Eli Raridon emerged as Notre Dame's primary tight end over his final two seasons after developing slowly through the program's demanding system. A former three-star recruit who initially struggled with the physicality of major college football, Raridon transformed his body and technique to become a reliable possession receiver and improved run blocker. His draft stock has risen steadily throughout the pre-draft process, with scouts appreciating his football IQ, reliable hands, and willingness to do the dirty work. While lacking the explosive athleticism to be a matchup weapon, Raridon projects as a steady complementary piece who can contribute immediately on special teams while developing into a role player in 12 and 21 personnel packages.

Strengths

+Excellent hand strength and catch radius allows him to secure passes in traffic and make contested catches over the middle of the field despite heavy contact.

+Shows advanced understanding of leverage and timing in route running, particularly on comeback routes and option concepts where he finds soft spots in zone coverage.

+Demonstrates improved run blocking technique with proper pad level and hand placement, showing the ability to sustain blocks against linebackers and safeties in gap schemes.

+Exceptional football intelligence and pre-snap recognition allows him to identify coverage rotations and adjust routes accordingly, rarely running into coverage.

+Reliable target on third downs and in the red zone, showing body control to make catches along the sideline and in tight windows near the goal line.

+Strong special teams contributor with the size and physicality to excel on punt coverage and field goal protection units throughout his college career.

+Shows good blocking angles and effort level when asked to seal edges or work back to linebackers in outside zone concepts.

+Demonstrates proper catch technique with consistent hand placement and the ability to pluck the ball away from his body rather than letting it into his chest.

+Good teammate and practice player who embraces coaching and has shown steady improvement in technical aspects of his position throughout his college career.

+Versatile enough to line up in multiple alignments including in-line, slot, and occasional fullback packages while maintaining assignment discipline.

Weaknesses

-Limited speed and acceleration after the catch makes him vulnerable to being run down by linebackers and safeties on intermediate routes.

-Struggles to create separation against athletic coverage, particularly when matched up against slot corners or hybrid safety types in passing situations.

-Route tree is somewhat limited with inconsistency on deeper breaking routes that require sharp cuts and sudden direction changes at the top of stems.

-Lacks the power and anchor strength to handle defensive ends or larger linebackers in pass protection situations on a consistent basis.

-Ball security issues occasionally surface when absorbing big hits, with a tendency to let the ball get away from his body on contact.

-Limited big-play ability due to average acceleration and long speed, making him primarily a possession receiver rather than a vertical threat.

-Inconsistent hand placement and technique in run blocking when facing athletic edge rushers who can use speed-to-power moves.

-Needs to improve his release package at the line of scrimmage, as physical defensive backs can disrupt his timing on intermediate routes.

NFL Comparison: Tyler Kroft

Fan voting will be available once grades are published.

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