NFL insider thinks Patriots rookie tight end is player to watch

The New England Patriots have many reasons to be excited about their 2026 rookie class. However, one player that NFL insider Albert Breer will be keeping an eye on in particular is third-round draft pick Eli Raridon.

Hunter Henry is the starting tight end, but he is also 31 years old and playing in the final year of his contract. The veteran hasn't shown any signs of slowing down, but the Patriots have been searching for the future at the tight end position.

Perhaps they've finally found it in the former Notre Dame standout.

“Eli Raridon. I think that’s the one to me. I see opportunity there," Breer said, via NBC Sports Boston . "...Whenever I’m predicting who’s gonna win Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year, the first thing I look at is, ‘What does his position look like within his team?’ Because that’s just gonna create the opportunity.

"You’ve got Hunter Henry at the position. He is on the wrong side of 30 now. Can you count on him for 17 games? Like, it’s sometimes tough to count on a player of that age to hold up for an entire season. The Julian Hill injury, in addition to the Austin Hooper departure, puts you in a position where there should be opportunity for Eli Raridon to come in and play as a rookie."

The opportunity should be there right out of the gate for Raridon with Julian Hill sidelined for the season, and Austin Hooper playing in Atlanta.

There haven't been any moves to sign a viable tight end that would take snaps away from the rookie. So the Patriots are in a situation where Henry will continue serving as the top option, while Raridon works in as the No. 2 tight end.

The Notre Dame program has a long history of churning out productive NFL tight ends. So all eyes will be on Raridon to see if he's the next one to find success at the NFL level.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: NFL insider thinks Patriots rookie tight end is player to watch

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