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.<\/p>\n
No. 9 ELI STOWERS\/TE, VANDERBILT (RS SENIOR) \u2013 6\u20194, 235
\nMeasurements<\/p>\n
Player
\nHt\/Wt
\nHand Size
\nArm Length
\nWingspan<\/p>\n
Eli Stowers
\n6-4\/235
\nN\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
40-Yard Dash
\n10-Yard Dash
\nShort Shuttle
\n3-Cone<\/p>\n
N\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
Broad Jump
\nVertical
\nBench Press<\/p>\n
N\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
THE GOOD<\/p>\n
\u2013 Impressive athletic ability for position
\u2013 Has athleticism to avoid collisions vs off-man coverage
\u2013 Good vertical speed, can stretch the field
\u2013 Sinks hips and gets out of breaks quickly to sideline
\u2013 Good rushing ability in open field and breaks tackles
\u2013 Improved hands throughout year
\u2013 Possesses raw talent and is still learning to play the position<\/p>\n
THE BAD<\/p>\n
\u2013 Limiting play strength
\u2013 Struggles to win as a blocker
\u2013 Will not survive in the box to block
\u2013 Does not want to get physical and block
\u2013 Does not fire hands in defender\u2019s chest to block
\u2013 Was used as a big slot receiver
\u2013 Raw at the catch point, has drop issues and struggles to keep feet in bounds on sideline
\u2013 Limits his own YAC opportunities by falling at catch point, needs to run through the ball
\u2013 Will struggle to beat collisions with play strength
\u2013 Struggles to create separation vs press coverage
\u2013 Not physical enough to box out defensive backs
\u2013 Slow breaks going towards the middle of the field<\/p>\n
STATS<\/p>\n
\u2013 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
\u2013 2025: 62 receptions for 769 yards and 4 touchdowns
\u2013 Career as tight end: 146 receptions for 1773 yards and 11 touchdowns
\u2013 Career rushing stats: 36 rushes for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns<\/p>\n
INJURY HISTORY<\/p>\n
\u2013 2025: Missed preseason scrimmages due to an undisclosed injury
\u2013 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
\u2013 2019 (HS): Torn PCL and meniscus in left knee during state championship game. He needed surgery in January 2020 and extensive physical therapy.<\/p>\n
BACKGROUND<\/p>\n
\u2013 Turns 23 in April of 2026
\u2013 Won the John Mackey Award (best TE) in 2025
\u2013 Received the William V. Campbell Trophy (scholar athlete) in 2025
\u2013 2025 Semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year
\u2013 Named a First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC in 2025
\u2013 Received First Team All-SEC Honors in 2024
\u2013 2024 Phil Steele All-America Third Team
\u2013 Four-star quarterback out of Denton Guyer High School in Texas
\u2013 Led his team to a state championship appearance as a junior
\u2013 Also competed in track, where he won the 2019 6A Texas state title in high jump
\u2013 Stowers was beaten out for the quarterback job at New Mexico State by Diego Pavia, and they transferred together to Vanderbilt after one season<\/p>\n
TAPE BREAKDOWN<\/p>\n
Eli Stowers has had a very interesting college career. It\u2019s 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\u2019 game, and he was used more as a big slot receiver rather than a tight end at Vanderbilt.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He has only played here for 2.5 years, so there could be growth. But it seems like he doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
One of the strengths of Stowers\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cafter.\u201d Here is a perfect example, where he juggles a wide-open catch and limits his YAC opportunity.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He is not targeted here, but he jabs outside then takes off up the field, showcasing his vertical speed.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n