
The Detroit Lions are considering drafting Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon, who has a history of ACL injuries. The team needs depth at the position due to concerns over Sam LaPorta's health and lack of long-term contracts for current players.
The TE position is a sneaky need for the Lions given Sam LaPorta's health and the lack of any players signed beyond 2026. The mid-rounds might be a target to pick up a TE like Eli Raridon. However, he has an ACL history that carries concerns.
Here is the excerpt from my medical report on Raridon:
(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information are unverified and subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)
Projected round 4-5 . Ran 4.62 40 at combine. Matt Miller’s #137 overall player.
Concern level 5/10
ACL’s usually don’t carry much if any long-term concern, but having two ACL tears raises concern for a predisposition to the injury. Raridon has shown perfect availability in his final two seasons which is reassuring.
He finished with 48 receptions for 623 yards in college.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions NFL Draft Injury Report: Notre Dame TE Eli Raridon
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Eli Raridon has a history of ACL injuries, which raises concerns about his durability and performance.
The Lions need a tight end due to health concerns regarding Sam LaPorta and the absence of signed players beyond 2026.
Eli Raridon could be targeted in the mid-rounds of the draft as a potential solution to the Lions' tight end needs.

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