New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon has been generating a lot of buzz in the past couple of days. He is getting praise from some of the top names in college football. He already has many fans, and you can Eric Galko to the list.
Galko is the Director of football operations and player personnel for the Shrine Bowl. He has seen some of the top players in the country develop and move on to the next stage in their football careers. This includes Raridon. Although the tight end did not play any actual game, he was named to the East squad All-Practice team. He impressed scouts leading up to the game itself. He did not play in the game, but still managed to have a solid week.
Now, Galko believes that Raridon could be more than just a depth piece. CLNS Media’s Mike Kadlick and Taylor Kyles reported this.
“It’s the blocking ability and the upside that he possesses, and can get better at that’s going to make him a true Y-tight end, TE1, early on in his NFL career…I think Raridon has a chance to be not only a starting tight end in the NFL, but as complete as a guy you’ll find coming out of college.”
Patriots Have Interesting Outlook At Tight End
The Patriots are in a unique spot at the tight end position. Hunter Henry is the primary starter. That being said, the 34-year-old is entering the final year of a three-year contract. Julian Hill was signed from the Miami Dolphins this offseason. He should be able to serve as a primary blocking specialist. Those figure to be the main pieces in the room.
The Patriots also have additional depth at the position. C.J. Dippre and Tanner Arkin can also make an impact at the position, although it seems as though the room is set with Henry, Hill, and Raridon.
Patriots Rookie Brings Multiple Skills To Table
Raridon brings multiple aspects to his game. He measures in at six-foot-six, 245 pounds. The playmaker averaged 15.1 yards per catch last season, ranking fourth among her five tight ends. With that comes the verticality. He is known as a playmaker, and someone who can stretch the field. He had 32 receptions for 482 yards last season
In addition, he is known to be able to block. Scouting reports indicate that he is better at blocking at the second level, and that he may not be the best at blocking lineman head-on. Even still, he can bring that skill to the table. This is especially useful for offenses that heavily feature the running game.
It’s clear the Patriots want him to be a tight end of the future. The organization is banking on his catching ability as well as his ability to get the ball and make things happen after the catch. Saying he could be a day one starter may seem a bit bold. However, he fits into what can be a wide-open Josh McDaniels offense. McDaniels loves to utilize the tight end position and use them essentially as wide receivers. It makes sense that they drafted a tight end who can basically do the same thing.
To say that Raridon might be a Day 1 starter might be a bit generous. However, it also makes sense given his abilities. Development is highly important, especially over the course of training camp. With that being said, the tight end position is certainly open for him to make his way up the depth chart quickly.
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