After a season-ending injury to Julian Hill, third-round pick Eli Raridon is moving into a major role. Coach Mike Vrabel’s comments indicate Raridon is learning quickly and could pair with Hunter Henry to end a years-long tight end problem.
Raridon’s limited college starts and modest receiving stats mean he still needs time to master pro-level blocking and the Patriots’ playbook.
The Patriots’ tight end room still needs depth and in-game trust from quarterback Drake Maye, making Raridon’s progress important but not decisive yet.
Dame. He appeared in 40 college games but only started as a senior, finishing with 48 receptions for 623 yards and three touchdowns. The initial 2026 plan was for Raridon to be the No. 3 tight end behind Hunter Henry and Julian Hill. Hill suffered a season-ending injury about a month after the draft, shifting Raridon into the likely primary backup role and a clearer path to early snaps.
In a press conference on Aug. 17, Mike Vrabel gave a specific, practical endorsement of Raridon's learning curve: "He rarely makes the same mistake twice. If we coach him on something or he didn't like what he did on one day, he usually comes back the next day and does a decent job at it." Vrabel added that you can see Raridon consciously trying to do the things coaches ask, but that there is still "a long ways to go."
Vrabel's praise is noteworthy because it addresses two practical coaching priorities: rapid correction of mistakes and consistent technique work. Those traits reduce rookie growing pains and make it likelier a young player can contribute sooner.
Raridon's readiness and limitations
Concrete strengths: size (6-6), willingness to learn, and early positive work in pads. Those traits help him adapt to NFL blocking responsibilities and route discipline.
Although the Patriots have depth issues at several positions, Mike Vrabel may have no choice but to save a roster spot for a player few expected to make the team just a few months ago
The Patriots' head coach got candid while speaking to reporters after their preseason Week 2 win over the Eagles.
The Patriots' initial 53-man roster proves Mike Vrabel is going in a specific direction that could prove genius or a giant mistake.
"If anything, it should motivate you, man, to kind of raise your level." The post Why Hunter Henry doesn’t have an issue with Mike Vrabel’s harsh comments on Patriots’ depth appeared first on Boston.com .
The Patriots' lack of depth frustrated Mike Vrabel against the Eagles, but the bulk of the blame no longer belongs to the previous coaching staff.
Vrabel’s assessment speaks more to the complexities of NFL roster-building than to Boutte’s talent. The post Mike Vrabel’s comments about Kayshon Boutte might sound harsh on the surface, but they aren’t off-base appeared first on Boston.com .
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.