Eli Stowers
Eli Stowers  TE  Vanderbilt | NFL Draft 2026 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Eli Stowers
Height
6-4
Weight
225
College
Vanderbilt
Position
TE
Class
Senior
Home town
Denton, TX
85.9/100
Player Rating
3
PositionRank (TE)
4.55
FortyYD Time
Receptions
49
Rec YDs
638
Rec TDs
5
Rec AVG
13

Eli Stowers TE Vanderbilt | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Eli Stowers TE Vanderbilt
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

ROLE: Slot Receiving TE
Last Updated: 05/19/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 4.55 seconds (93%*)
Age: 22.1 DOB: 04/15/2003
Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl
Measurables:
Height: 6-4 (41%*) Weight: 225 (1%*)
Forty: 4.55 (O) (93%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
ROLE: Slot Receiving TE
Last Updated: 05/19/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 4.55 seconds (93%*)
Age: 22.1 DOB: 04/15/2003
Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-4 (41%*) Weight: 225 (1%*)
Forty: 4.55 (O) (93%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 85.9 / 100
Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced
Defense Rating:
75%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
QB Rating When targeted: 119.2
Hands:
92%
Short Receiving:
95%
Intermediate Routes:
92%
Deep Threat:
94%
Blocking:
67%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 2nd - Late
Overall Rank: #55 Position rank: #3
College Games: 27 College Snaps: 807
Grade: 4 ESPN  Stars 4 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 82/100
Grade: 247 Sports 4  Stars 247 Sports 94 Stars 247 RATING: 94/100
Grade: 4 Stars 4 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Trey McBride - Colorado State
82%
Ja'Tavion Sanders - Texas
81%
Harold Fannin Jr. - Bowling Green
79%
Draft Profile: Bio
The road to elite tight end prospect isn't typically paved with quarterback cleats, but Eli Stowers has blazed an unconventional path to the NFL draft. A former four-star QB recruit and Texas 6A high jump state champion (with a remarkable 7-foot clearance), Stowers initially landed at Texas A&M where he spent two seasons as a reserve signal-caller. His journey took a pivotal turn when he transferred to New Mexico State and transitioned to tight end, immediately showcasing natural receiving ability that belied his newcomer status at the position. After earning Honorable Mention All-Conference USA honors with the Aggies, Stowers followed offensive coordinator Tim Beck to Vanderbilt for his graduate season.

At Vanderbilt, the former Denton Guyer High School standout detonated in the SEC, establishing himself as Diego Pavia's lifeline in the passing attack. His breakout 2024 campaign featured several jaw-dropping performances, including a six-catch, 113-yard masterclass in Vandy's historic upset over top-ranked Alabama. The Biletnikoff Award watch lister finished his final collegiate season with 49 receptions for 638 yards and five touchdowns, earning first-team All-SEC honors and semifinalist recognition for the Mackey Award. His rapid development curve and immediate production against elite competition showed a natural feel for a position he'd only recently adopted.

Despite flashing tantalizing receiving traits, Stowers opted to return for the 2025 season to refine his craft rather than declaring for the previous draft. The decision paid dividends as he added muscle to his frame while honing blocking techniques previously foreign to the former quarterback.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Electric vertical threat who decimates the seam with legit speed, forcing defensive coordinators to account for his presence on every snap.
  • Natural hands catcher who absorbs footballs like memory foam, plucking missiles cleanly away from his frame even through contact.
  • Former QB background manifests in route intelligence, consistently finding soft spots and settling in zones with savvy beyond his positional experience.
  • Creates separation with sudden breaks that leave linebackers grasping at ghosts, showing exceptional twitch for a man his size.
  • Dangerous after the catch with surprising wiggle and burst, turns routine completions into chunk plays when given runway.
  • High-point specialist who weaponizes his track background, timing jumps perfectly and snatching contested balls at their apex.
  • Shows tremendous body control when working the boundary, contorting in mid-air and getting both feet down with ballerina precision.
  • Versatile chess piece who can align anywhere in the formation, creating matchup nightmares from slot, inline, or backfield alignments.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Severely undersized frame for traditional tight end duties, gets overwhelmed at point of attack against defensive ends who outweigh him by 50+ pounds.
  • Raw technician in blocking aspects who often loses leverage battles, allowing defenders to control him and disrupt running lanes.
  • Limited play strength shows up when asked to anchor in pass protection, gets walked back into the quarterback's lap against bull rushers.
  • Hand placement in blocking exchanges remains inconsistent, often landing outside the defender's frame and nullifying his already limited power.
  • Positional transition still evident in route stems that occasionally telegraph intentions, allowing savvy defenders to jump underneath patterns.
Scouting Report: Summary
The gap between Stowers' receiving prowess and blocking limitations creates a fascinating evaluation. Every jaw-dropping seam route and contested catch must be weighed against the reality of his struggles at the point of attack. What you're getting is a dynamic pass-catching specialist who'll need schematic protection early in his career. His basketball-like rebounding skills in the red zone provide immediate value, but his inability to sustain blocks against defensive ends will limit his snap count in traditional formations until significant strength gains materialize.

When the ball's in the air, Stowers transforms into a matchup nightmare with elite speed that forces defenses to account for his vertical presence. This aerial threat comes packaged with surprising after-catch wiggle that can turn routine completions into chunk gains. The flip side reveals a player who gets overwhelmed when asked to anchor against bull rushers or create movement in the run game. Offensive coordinators must balance his explosive receiving traits against the potential liability he presents when asked to handle traditional inline blocking responsibilities.

His developmental trajectory hinges on two critical factors: physical development and landing in a system that values his specific skill set. The foundation of natural hands and route intelligence provides a solid base to build upon, while his late transition to the position suggests untapped potential still waiting to be unlocked. Though he'll enter the league as more "big receiver" than complete tight end, his unique athletic profile and former quarterback background provide the tools that could yield serious returns. The transition from quarterback to tight end isn't fully complete, but the ceiling remains tantalizing for a teamwilling to invest in his continued growth.

How other scouting services rate Eli Stowers (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
55.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
1.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance. For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.

*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.