NFL Rookie Tight End Blueprint: Eli Raridon brings Gronk-like upside to Patriots

Is New England Patriots rookie Eli Raridon the answer the team has been looking for at the No. 2 tight end position over the last several seasons?

With top tight end Hunter Henry entering his 11th season in the NFL, the third-round pick could play a larger role in the offense given the combination of size and talent he brings to the position. In this initial installment of the NFL Rookie Tight End Blueprint, NFL Mocks looks at a tight end who enters the league with the potential to remind Patriots fans of the great Rob Gronkowski.

Eli Raridon brings some Gronk-like traits to New England

Those are big shoes for the former Notre Dame star to fill, but it’s tough to ignore some of the similarities. Both are equal in height and hand size, with Raridon holding the edge when it comes to speed.

Eli Raridon vs. Rob Gronkowski: Pre-Draft Comparison

*Gronkowksi athletic testing from Arizona Pro Day.

The biggest difference between the two is physicality. Although Raridon added to the fan buzz by stating he modeled his game after Gronk, he doesn't bring the same dominant physical presence Gronkowski did. While durability concerns dropped Gronkowski’s draft stock, the same could be said for Raridon, who is overcoming two ACL tears suffered early in his Notre Dame career that slowed his production.

In watching Raridon at Notre Dame, it is hard not to draw comparisons to Gronkowski from the standpoint of how he can exploit defenses and stretch the field. This comparison is nothing new, but like Gronk, Raridon enters the league with an MVP-caliber quarterback and an opportunity to learn behind a veteran.

Hunter Henry can help Raridon take the next step

For Gronkowski, that veteran was Alge Crumpler. For Raridon, it’s Henry, who has been a consistent playmaker and reliable weapon for Drake Maye through the quarterback's first two seasons in the league.

After learning from the great Antonio Gates early in his own career, the Patriots veteran tight end is looking to pass that knowledge forward to Raridon.

“I’m always trying to be a leader. I had some good vets when I was young, obviously, with Antonio Gates and some guys like Sean McGrath is another guy that comes to mind,” Henry said on Tuesday. “Those guys really helped me come along. Sometimes it wasn’t even what they said. It was just watching how they process things and how they went about their business, and handling everything. It really taught me what was to kind of be in this league.

“So really, hopefully [Raridon] can come alongside and just watch that process. Obviously, I’m going to be there for him.”

While the 6-foot-6 Raridon hasn’t shown too much for Patriots fans to get excited about just yet, he has flashed early chemistry with Maye. The rookie has also been praised for his ability to pick up information quickly and learn from his mistakes.

Those are encouraging signs for a player whose athleticism gives him an opportunity to contribute immediately.

Eli Raridon could unlock Patriots' two-tight end attack

With the athleticism he brings to the table, Raridon has an opportunity to emerge in the two-tight end sets Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels loves to utilize. The team has been somewhat successful over the last two seasons with Henry and Austin Hooper filling those roles, but Raridon brings a different level of athleticism and upside to the position.

It’s possible the Patriots have finally found a tight end combination capable of creating consistent defensive mismatches.

That becomes even more intriguing with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs threatening defenses on the outside and Demario Douglas working underneath. If Raridon can emerge as a Day 1 contributor, his presence could elevate Maye and the entire New England offense to another level.

Suddenly, defenses would have to account for Henry's reliability, Raridon's size and athleticism, Douglas underneath and Brown and Doubs on the perimeter. That's the type of versatility McDaniels can use to create favorable matchups across the field.

No one can impact a game quite like Gronk, and expecting Raridon to become the next Gronkowski would be unfair. But the rookie has the size, athleticism and opportunity to develop into a difference-maker at the position.

With Maye's arm talent and Raridon's ability to stretch the field, this could become a QB-tight end combination Patriots fans have plenty of reasons to get excited about in Foxborough.

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