As the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft drew to a close, the New England  Patriots  added some much-needed depth at tight end.  With the 95th overall selection, the Pats selected Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon — a player capable of making a difference in the passing game, as well as providing additional proficiency as a blocker. In what has already been heralded as a draft class deep in “tight endage” talent, the Patriots were quite vocal on their intentions for adding players with the potential of being the right fit for coordinator Josh McDaniels’ offense. Raridon’s draft stock continued to rise heading into draft week, thus encouraging the Pats to secure his services among a run of tight end selections in the third round. Eli Raridon Provides Both Pass-Catching and Blocking Prowess Tight end Eli Raridon, right, during Notre Dame football's Pro Day at Irish Athletic Center on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in South Bend.…