Foxborough — Eli Raridon, a rookie tight end for the New England Patriots, is emerging as a notable contributor to the team’s offense heading into the regular season. Drafted in the third round out of Notre Dame, Raridon enters the NFL at 22 years old with opportunities heightened by the Patriots’ decision not to bring back veteran tight end Austin Hooper and the season-ending injury to free agent Julian Hill.

While some rookies received extensive playing time during the preseason, Raridon spent much of his time practicing alongside the team’s veterans, a strategy that underscores the Patriots’ confidence in his readiness. He participated heavily in 11-on-11 drills throughout training camp and frequently lined up as the second tight end alongside veteran Hunter Henry in the two-tight-end sets favored by offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

At Notre Dame, Raridon was not a high-volume receiving tight end but was effective when targeted. He recorded 32 catches for 482 yards last season, averaging 15.1 yards per reception, second-best on the team among players with 10 or more catches. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 245 pounds, Raridon is valued for his reliability as a target and ability as a blocker—skills that were emphasized throughout the summer.

Quarterback Drake Maye praised Raridon’s blend of size, athleticism, and intelligence, noting his willingness to work through fatigue and continue taking reps without calling for substitutions. This work ethic stands out, especially considering Raridon has overcome two ACL tears in his right knee earlier in his football career.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has expressed cautious optimism about Raridon’s development. “He rarely makes the same mistake twice,” Vrabel said, highlighting the rookie’s quick learning and ability to adjust day-to-day based on coaching. However, Vrabel also acknowledged there is still significant room for growth as Raridon adapts to the NFL level.

Raridon missed some practice time late in camp due to a health issue and did not participate in the final two preseason games. Nevertheless, this absence was viewed more as a sign of confidence in his progress rather than concern about his readiness. The Patriots appear prepared to entrust him with meaningful playing time in the regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions.

Vrabel noted the challenges rookies face when stepping into their first NFL game, particularly in a high-pressure environment like Seattle. “We try to get them as much as we can here and stress them as much as we possibly can in practice, and the noise and situations, but probably not,” he said. “I don’t know if there is a great way to be able to do that for their first game.”

Raridon is eagerly anticipating the challenge. “I’m expecting a super-crazy environment, with it being opening night and playing at Seattle,” he said. “I’m just preparing to adapt to that environment and to the speed of play as best I can. But I’m really excited. It’ll be a really cool experience for me. I’m excited to grow and improve throughout the year, and really excited to finally be able to get out there and compete against another team.”