{"id":83805,"date":"2026-04-25T00:40:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T00:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/vanderbilt-te-eli-stowers-goes-to-philadelphia-eagles-in-second-round-of-2026-nfl-draft\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T00:40:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T00:40:03","slug":"vanderbilt-te-eli-stowers-goes-to-philadelphia-eagles-in-second-round-of-2026-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/vanderbilt-te-eli-stowers-goes-to-philadelphia-eagles-in-second-round-of-2026-nfl-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers goes to Philadelphia Eagles in second round of 2026 NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"Eli<\/span><\/div>\n

Tight end Eli Stowers set career highs with 62 catches and 769 receiving yards at Vanderbilt in 2025. Kenneth Richmond \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers with the No. 54 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Stowers was the No. 2-ranked tight end in \u201cThe Beast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally recruited as a college quarterback, Stowers began his college career at Texas A&M. Multiple shoulder injuries forced him to change positions and become a tight end. After two years at Texas A&M, Stowers managed to get his collegiate career rolling at New Mexico State in 2023, where his quarterback was Diego Pavia. Stowers and Pavia both transferred to Vanderbilt in 2024 and spent the past two seasons together. Stowers has steadily improved in each of the last three seasons, going from 35 catches in 2023 to 49 in 2024 and 62 in 2025. His 769 receiving yards last year were a career best. Stowers was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2024 and became a first-team All-American and the Mackey Award winner in 2025.<\/p>\n

Stowers is a good athlete, so the receiving game came fairly naturally in his transition from quarterback to tight end. Stowers\u2019 64.1 receiving yards per game led all FBS tight ends in 2025. However, he still has work to do as a blocker, especially as the defenders get faster and stronger at the NFL level. His large frame still offers some room to add mass and grow stronger, which should help his blocking as well as make him a bigger target in the receiving game.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Beast\u2019 breakdown<\/h2>\n

Stowers ranked No. 63 in Dane Brugler\u2019s top 300 big board. Here\u2019s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:<\/p>\n

\u201cAn above-average athlete for the position, Stowers attacks defenders\u2019 techniques and uses his quickness to consistently win one-on-one on slants, digs or seam balls. Because of the quarterback and scheme at Vanderbilt, he was asked to use his burst for quick windows and is unproven in other areas, although he has the speed to be more of a deep threat in a pro-style scheme. He delivered mixed results when asked to attack in traffic, but he has reliable hands and fluid adjustment skills. As a blocker, he has questionable physicality and sustain strength but competes when sealing or walling off defenders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Coaching intel<\/h2>\n

What an anonymous coach had to say about Stowers in Bruce Feldman\u2019s mock draft:<\/p>\n

\u201cLinebackers can\u2019t cover this guy,\u201d said an SEC DC. \u201cHis athleticism is rare, and he can really go get the ball. He also tracks the ball really well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Come back later for more analysis of Stowers. <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Connections:<\/div>\n

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\"Connections:<\/div>\n
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Connections: Sports Edition<\/h2>\n

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms<\/p>\n

Find the hidden link between sports terms<\/p>\n<\/div>\n