Eagles choose Vanderbilt tight finish Eli Stowers in 2026 NFL draft

[ad_1] Hearken to article • 0:00 min The Eagles entered draft weekend with short- and long-term wants at huge receiver and tight finish.

With their first two picks, they chose a participant who was named the highest participant at every place in school soccer final season.

Hours after they launched huge receiver Makai Lemon , their first-round choose, to native media, the Eagles on Friday evening chosen Vanderbilt tight finish Eli Stowers with the 54th choose.

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Stowers, a first-team All-American, had 62 receptions for 769 yards and 4 touchdowns with the Commodores. The 6-foot-4, 239-pound native of Texas is a former quarterback who has performed tight finish for simply three seasons after starting his school profession at Texas A&M as a quarterback.

Shoulder accidents made it in order that Stowers “couldn’t throw the ball the identical,” he mentioned. He transferred to New Mexico State, the place he competed with Diego Pavia for the beginning quarterback job. Pavia received, however Stowers went into offensive coordinator Tim Beck’s workplace and informed him he’d do “something” to get on the sector, he mentioned.

He transitioned to tight finish, went with Pavia and the teaching workers to Vanderbilt, and has excelled.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said “Stowers might want to show himself as a serviceable blocker on the NFL degree, however he's explosive as a go catcher, and I like the way in which he maximizes his catch radius. He has mismatch-creating potential and might finally become an NFL starter.”

The Ringer’s Todd McShay noted that Stowers “recorded a excessive fee of chunk performs (30.6% of catches going for 15-plus yards), was environment friendly (2.43 yards per route run), was stable after the catch (5.9 yards per reception), and flashed tackle-breaking capability (9 pressured missed tackles) final season.”

Can have extra ideas about Eli Stowers in a bit, the brand new #Eagles tight finish, however he’s extra of a receiver than true in-line tight finish. Mismatch weapon, vertical menace capability, an H-back sort that could be very comparable talent set sensible to Evan Engram.

Former QB background. Very…

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) April 25, 2026

Stowers mentioned he had a proper interview with the Eagles on the mix, the place he ran a 4.51 40-yard sprint, had a 45½-inch vertical leap, and an 11-foot, 3-inch broad bounce. These are elite numbers for tight ends, and whereas Stowers nonetheless has some sprucing to do, particularly as a blocker, his profile is intriguing, and he’s nonetheless studying lots about his new place.

“The man is tremendous proficient,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni mentioned. “Athletically, he does some issues that no person else can do. Simply to have the ability to create mismatches with him on third down and first- and second-down conditions. He's a troublesome cowl. He catches every part, good after the catch, velocity and quickness.”

Sirianni mentioned it was “thrilling” that Stowers has solely been a good finish for a number of years.

“With guys like that, we’ve accomplished a ton of homework on the man, clearly,” he mentioned. “Nice character man, excessive soccer IQ having performed quarterback. These guys proceed to develop. Excited to work with him as a result of he has lots of room to enhance as effectively.”

Stowers mentioned “just about every part is new to me” with the tight finish place. “Each single a part of the tight finish sport is one thing I wish to proceed to get higher at.”

Along with the Mackey Award, given to the nation’s prime tight finish, Stowers additionally was given the William V. Campbell Trophy, in any other case often known as the “Tutorial Heisman.”

Tight finish was a place of want for the Eagles getting into the draft. They introduced again each Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra on one-year offers and added blocking tight finish Johnny Mundt in free company, additionally for one yr. However they'd no tight ends below contract past 2026 and now have an athletic and bettering go catcher on a rookie deal.

» READ MORE: Eagles select Miami tackle Markel Bell in third round of 2026 NFL draft

Stowers mentioned his transition to tight finish included watching lots of movie to attempt to study the ins and outs of the place. One of many gamers he watched, he mentioned, was Goedert.

On Thursday, the Eagles started making ready for all times with out A.J. Brown . One evening later, they've their succession plan for Goedert.

“It’s simply such a blessing to be part of this crew,” Stowers mentioned. “It’s such an awesome program with a lot historical past and a successful tradition.