Eli Raridon Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Matt Cashore/USA Today Sports)

School: Notre Dame

Class: Senior

Position: TE

HT: 6’7

WT: 250 lbs

Background: Eli Raridon was a highly regarded tight end in the 2022 class. He was a top 150 player and top 5 tight end in the country. Eli’s dad, Scott, played offensive line for Notre Dame in the 1990s. Out of Des Moines, Iowa, Raridon played for Valley High School. He was named to the 2021 Elite All-Iowa Team. As a senior for Valley, he scored 10 touchdowns. Along with his prowess as a football player, Raridon was also one of the best basketball players in the state. He was a Second Team All-Iowa basketball player as a junior. Eli Raridon chose to play for Notre Dame over the likes of Iowa, Kansas, and Iowa State.

College: Raridon was a reserve as a freshman in 2022 who appeared in 5 games before suffering a season-ending ACL injury. He came back in 2023 to play in 7 games and start in 3. He started to see his role grow in 2024, recording 11 receptions for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns on the season. His best season came as a senior in 2025 when he recorded career highs across the board. He had 32 receptions for 482 yards.

Strengths: Eli Raridon is one of those high-IQ tight ends who just tears apart zone coverage. At times, it feels as though Raridon’s job is to simply find the spots of open grass, no matter what. He has the ideal length for the position, creating a large catch radius with consistent hands away from his frame. His long strides eat up yards to put defenders on their heels. He takes up so much space so quickly, looking like a moose in the middle of the field. Raridon excels both as a pass catcher and as a blocker. He handles both power and speed off the edge with relative ease. He has a wide base with long arms to prevent rushers from setting the edge on the strong side.

Weaknesses: While Raridon does have a wide base, his height often allows rushers to get into his chest and under his pads. He needs to get lower on a more consistent basis. Eli is not much of a threat with his legs. His yards after the catch production has been limited at Notre Dame. He does not have the speed to burn defenses, relying heavily on his size.

Conclusion: Eli Raridon is a headsy tight end with reliable hands and a high football IQ. His greatest strength is understanding defensive coverage. While he does not get many yards after the catch, he does well to consistently get himself open.

Best Team Fits: KC, MIA, CIN

Player Comparison: Michael Mayer

Player Grade: Round 3 (77.6)