From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers.

No. 9 ELI STOWERS/TE, VANDERBILT (RS SENIOR) – 6’4, 235
Measurements

Player
Ht/Wt
Hand Size
Arm Length
Wingspan

Eli Stowers
6-4/235
N/A
N/A
N/A

40-Yard Dash
10-Yard Dash
Short Shuttle
3-Cone

N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Broad Jump
Vertical
Bench Press

N/A
N/A
N/A

THE GOOD

– Impressive athletic ability for position
– Has athleticism to avoid collisions vs off-man coverage
– Good vertical speed, can stretch the field
– Sinks hips and gets out of breaks quickly to sideline
– Good rushing ability in open field and breaks tackles
– Improved hands throughout year
– Possesses raw talent and is still learning to play the position

THE BAD

– Limiting play strength
– Struggles to win as a blocker
– Will not survive in the box to block
– Does not want to get physical and block
– Does not fire hands in defender’s chest to block
– Was used as a big slot receiver
– Raw at the catch point, has drop issues and struggles to keep feet in bounds on sideline
– Limits his own YAC opportunities by falling at catch point, needs to run through the ball
– Will struggle to beat collisions with play strength
– Struggles to create separation vs press coverage
– Not physical enough to box out defensive backs
– Slow breaks going towards the middle of the field

STATS

– Started 17 games across 2 seasons at Vanderbilt. Transferred from New Mexico State, where he played in all 14 games for a season. He started as a running back at New Mexico State, switching to tight end in Week 6. Transferred to New Mexico State from Texas A&M, where he was a reserve quarterback for 2 years and saw action in 5 games
– 2025: 62 receptions for 769 yards and 4 touchdowns
– Career as tight end: 146 receptions for 1773 yards and 11 touchdowns
– Career rushing stats: 36 rushes for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns

INJURY HISTORY

– 2025: Missed preseason scrimmages due to an undisclosed injury
– 2021-22: Torn labrum in his throwing shoulder after being enrolled. He got surgery at the end of his freshman season, missing most of the 2022 season
– 2019 (HS): Torn PCL and meniscus in left knee during state championship game. He needed surgery in January 2020 and extensive physical therapy.

BACKGROUND

– Turns 23 in April of 2026
– Won the John Mackey Award (best TE) in 2025
– Received the William V. Campbell Trophy (scholar athlete) in 2025
– 2025 Semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year
– Named a First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC in 2025
– Received First Team All-SEC Honors in 2024
– 2024 Phil Steele All-America Third Team
– Four-star quarterback out of Denton Guyer High School in Texas
– Led his team to a state championship appearance as a junior
– Also competed in track, where he won the 2019 6A Texas state title in high jump
– Stowers was beaten out for the quarterback job at New Mexico State by Diego Pavia, and they transferred together to Vanderbilt after one season

TAPE BREAKDOWN

Eli Stowers has had a very interesting college career. It’s impressive that he was able to bounce back from adversity and find himself in a great spot heading into the draft. He has recently started playing tight end, and you can tell on tape. I still see the running back and quarterback in him, especially with blocking. This is a weakness in Stowers’ game, and he was used more as a big slot receiver rather than a tight end at Vanderbilt.

He will not win as a run blocker in the NFL and does not have play strength to play on the line of scrimmage attached to the formation. He is not very physical, which can be fixed, but it’s a glaring weakness in his game. Vanderbilt never ran the ball to his side, and he would affect the play negatively when he was involved. Here, he gets outmuscled on the backside of split zone, and his man makes the tackle.

You see the lack of physicality as a receiver, as well. When he is getting pressed, he struggles to create separation, and the punch of the defensive back stuns him. Against off-man coverage, he will get stonewalled in his route if there is a collision. Because he plays the role of a big slot receiver, that is a huge red flag if he cannot outmuscle a defensive back.

He has only played here for 2.5 years, so there could be growth. But it seems like he doesn’t want to be physical, not the fact that he cannot. On this play, he faces press coverage and gets outmuscled throughout the route. A questionable flag was thrown, but this is an example of Stowers not being strong enough.

Stowers being a raw pass catcher is apparent at the catch point. He had drop issues all year, and even though they improved, it was still noticeable. He struggled to make contested catches down the field, which is very important for a player of his size. If he was contacted at the catch point, he rarely finished through contact and brought in the ball.

One of the strengths of Stowers’ game is the ability to make people miss after the catch. When he reels the ball in and starts running, he has good contact balance and vision in the open field because of his history as a running back.

A big problem is his tendency to fall at the catch point and secure the ball when there is room to run. Pass catchers need to run through the ball to get YAC, and there are times where he needs to focus on catching the ball and forgets about the “after.” Here is a perfect example, where he juggles a wide-open catch and limits his YAC opportunity.

While Stowers has a lot of issues, it is easy to bet on a raw prospect who is a good athlete. He shows off his vertical speed throughout games and makes explosive catches down the field consistently. If the defensive back does not get a collision on him, he can use a quick jab to get by.

He is not targeted here, but he jabs outside then takes off up the field, showcasing his vertical speed.

The ability to stretch the field is important in any offense, which Stowers does well. He is a decent route runner, most effective moving towards the sideline. When breaking towards the middle of the field, he is slower but still can sink his hips and do it.

While Stowers had drop issues, he has a good vertical that allows him to high point the ball and catch it over defenders. He gets by a soft defender on this play and makes a spectacular catch.

CONCLUSION

Eli Stowers is a good athlete with ability to stretch the field, but will play more as a power slot than a tight end in the NFL. He will not win as a blocker and struggles to be physical in any aspect of his game. However, the athletic ability and his raw talent after playing the position only 2.5 years is apparent. He needs to grow into a tight end, which will increase his chance of playing. I think his catch radius and vertical speed are promising, making him a project that can improve with good coaching.

NFL Projection: Mid-Late Day 2
Steelers Depot Grade: 6.8 (Pure Backup)
Grade Range: 6.2-7.5
Games Watched: at Alabama (2025), vs Missouri (2025), at Texas (2025), vs Auburn (2025)