What happened: New England Patriots third-round pick Eli Raridon, selected 95th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, has turned his 44.2% offensive workload into 12 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Veteran tight end Hunter Henry voiced confidence in the passing attack whenever number 10 is in the backfield. On the defensive side, Patriots safety and 2026 team captain Kevin Byard III pointed to excessive coverage space and missed tackling after the unit surrendered eight pass plays of 20 or more yards.

Why it matters: Averaging 14.0 yards per reception with two scores on fewer than half the offensive plays shows Raridon is already generating efficient chunk yardage for the New England Patriots. Pairing Raridon on the field more often with Henry, who recorded 60 receptions for 768 yards and seven touchdowns across 17 games for New England in 2025, gives the offense two reliable targets over the middle. Sustaining longer drives through expanded two-tight-end sets also helps shield a Patriots defense working to eliminate the explosive passing plays Byard identified.