2026 NFL Draft Rookie Profile: Eli Stowers (Fantasy Football)
When I first heard Eli Stowers compared to my favorite TE, Darren Waller, I was intrigued. My interest grew after the Combine, where Stowers didn’t just meet expectations—he exceeded them. His movement skills were exceptional, and his testing produced elite numbers. On tape, he looks like a WR in a TE’s body. So why isn’t he the clear TE1 in every rookie draft? Let’s examine the metrics and film to see if I’m missing something—because right now, I’m close to drafting him everywhere.
Editor’s Note: This article is part of our Rookie Profile series going on until the 2026 NFL Draft. For more on each rookie, check out Andy, Mike, and Jason’s exclusive rookie rankings and production profiles found only in the Dynasty Pass, part of the UDK+ for 2026.
Measurables
| Height | Weight | Hands | Arms | Wing | 40-Yd | 10 Split | Vertical | Broad |
| 6’4″ | 239 lbs | 9 3/4″ | 32 5/8″ | 79 ¾ inches | 4.51 | 1.59 | 45.5″* | 11’3″* |
*Combine Records for TEs in Vertical and Broad Jump.
College Production Profile:
Before he was mossing defenders at TE, Stowers was carving up defenses as a QB at Denton Guyer High School. In 2020, he was a first-team all-district selection as he led Guyer to the Class 6A, Division II state semifinals. As a junior, Stowers was a Texas AP 6A second-team all-state selection and Texas District 5-6A Co-Offensive MVP, leading Guyer to a 14-2 record and an appearance in the Texas 6A D-II championship game. But that’s not all. Stowers also played HS basketball, was an All-State Second Team selection, and was a standout in track and field, including as the Texas 6A high jump state champion. In 2018, he was the unanimous Texas District 5-6A Offensive Newcomer of the Year and was tagged as a consensus 4-star recruit at QB by the three major media outlets (247 Sports, Rivals, & ESPN). Stowers was a dual-threat playmaker with legit passing production, flashing the athleticism and field vision that would later make his transition to TE so intriguing.
After high school, Stowers committed to Texas A&M, where he spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons waiting for his opportunity and seeing limited playing time.
2021: Played in three games, seeing the field against Kent State, Colorado, and South Carolina.
2022: Saw the field against Florida and UMass and earned the Offensive Scout Team award at the annual team banquet.
2023: Before the 2023 season, he transferred to New Mexico State, and that’s when things changed. He competed with Diego Pavia for the QB job, lost, played some wildcat QB, then switched to TE, where he was immediately productive. In interviews, Stowers credits his TE productivity to his QB experience: “I know what they’re looking for, I know where to sit in zone.” The data support this: he excels in yards per route run against zone coverage and is consistently productive. With his role quickly shifting, Stowers became a true gadget guy in his lone season with the Aggies. He finished the season with 35 recs for 366 yds and two TDs as a TE, 28 carries for 108 yds and two TDs as a runner, and four completions for 99 yds and one TD as a passer.
2024: After a year of adjusting and bulking up, he moved to Vanderbilt, and his performance took another step forward. Building on the promise he showed at New Mexico State, he quickly went from a “former QB project” to a legitimate TE prospect, known for creating matchup difficulties. He finished his junior year with 49 recs for 638 yds and five TDs, highlighted by a breakout performance in the upset win over Alabama with six catches for 113 yds.
2025: Stowers won the John Mackey Award and Campbell Trophy, capping off a rapid ascent. That season, he finished with 62 recs (second among TEs) for 769 yds (first) and four TDs. His 2.55 YPRR ranked second in the class—and against zone? A ridiculous 3.08, also second. Recent Mackey winners like Brock Bowers and Trey McBride have translated immediately to the NFL, and Stowers checks that same box, showing how his skill set matches recent top performers.
What’s On Tape
Games Watched: vs VA Tech (2025), vs Auburn (2025), vs Texas (2025)
1. Dangerous in Space
Stowers is a mismatch at TE. He intuitively finds and attacks soft spots in zone coverage—his QB background is a cheat code for reading defenses. He anticipates openings, creates separation, and is an inviting target. His football IQ and movement skills stand out, and as a pass catcher, he brings big Colston Loveland vibes. I would say after watching a few other TEs in this class, I haven’t found a better route runner from the bunch yet. The route tree is extensive.
Eli Stowers understands defender leverage and knows how to adapt his plan of attack
Only a handful of college tight ends excel in this area pic.twitter.com/aWC3m0M7nC
— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) April 4, 2026
2. Insane Athleticism
Yeah… this is where it gets impressive. Stowers’ Combine testing broke records: a 114.9 Speed Score (95th percentile), a perfect 147.1 Burst Score (100th percentile), and a 10.72 Catch Radius (99th percentile) all support those flashes on tape. His overall athleticism score—118.2—led the 2026 TE class and ranked in the top-10 all-time for the position. These numbers highlight just how notable his physical traits are. (via PlayerProfiler) And then you see the raw numbers…
Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers with a 45.5” Vertical
2nd Best in Combine History 💪
pic.twitter.com/vYPlWYmS6z— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) February 28, 2026
At 6’4”, 239, he rips a 4.51 forty and casually posts a 45.5-inch vertical. Not just “good for a TE”—that is basically unheard of for any human. It was the highest vertical of any player in 2025 and sits just a half-inch shy of the all-time record set by Gerald Sensabaugh (a 212-pound safety) back in 2005. This is alien territory.
3. Massive Catch Radius / Strong Hands
Stowers’ catch radius is outstanding due to long arms and a massive vertical leap. At 6’4” and 235 pounds, he made Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List in 2025. His vertical jump isn’t just a Combine stat; it appears on jump ball fades and high-point grabs in the red zone. Dude has hops. If it’s in the air, he is going to get a piece of it. We are talking a near 80-inch wingspan + a 45-inch vertical. That is a cheat code. He goes up and grabs the football at its highest point with strong hands, plays above defenders, and finishes through contact. No body catching here either- he plucks it clean with strong hands and easy control.
4. YAC
He finished second among all TEs in YAC with 377 yds. Once he has the ball, Stowers uses his high school dual-threat background to show great balance and vision. He’s elusive for his size, often making the first defender miss before heading up field. He shows burst and awareness after the catch, turning short plays into big gains, allowing him to win in the short areas of the field with his YAC ability.
What’s Not On Tape:
1. Size
Stowers is a bit lighter than most NFL TEs—built more like Brock Bowers than Rob Gronkowski—which shapes how teams might use him. The good news: he likely won’t be utilized as a blocking TE, and will instead function as a pass-catching specialist. However, his smaller size can show up in physical matchups, where stronger defenders might bump him off his route. The potential downside? This could limit snaps and playing time.
2. Blocking
With a lack of size comes a lack of blocking ability. And allow me just to put it like this… Stowers is getting manhandled out there.
Watching Eli Stowers tape and this is all I keep seeing 🥹 Dude is getting manhandled as a blocker. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/8eOBDWrYoD
— Foxworth07 (@bfoxworth07) March 14, 2026
Vanderbilt frequently moved him into the slot to avoid having him “attached” to the tackle. He doesn’t create leverage against defenders and often finds himself being “thrown around” for lack of a better term—a little outmuscled, if we are being honest. As a result, he was in line on just 24.9% of snaps last season, which is the third-fewest at the position. On the bright side, he isn’t a straight-up blocking TE with no pass-catching chops. For context, Harold Fannin Jr. had over 70 catches as a rookie, despite ranking 91st out of 109 TEs in PFF Run-Block Grade and 77th in Pass-Block Grade.
Fantasy Implications:
Where Eli Stowers lands in the NFL Draft will heavily influence his fantasy outlook. Currently, he is projected in the late Day 2 to early Day 3 range, though there is some late first-round buzz floating on Twitter. I’m not buying Round 1 hype just yet, and most mocks peg him to land in Round 2. (Consensus Big Board no. 52)
When you look at his whole profile, you see something special—a pass-catching TE who’s elite with the ball in his hands and has the mind of a former QB. Stowers uses his football sense to find open spots in zone coverage and gives his QB a reliable target. He’s a real weapon for fantasy football. He won’t be spending most of his time blocking—he’ll be a big target downfield.
Stowers has met with the Jaguars, Dolphins, Broncos, Ravens, Titans, Cowboys, and Eagles. Landing with the Dolphins or Broncos would make perfect sense. Just look at Darren Waller’s production with Miami last season: Stowers could step into a similar role, especially in the red zone. TE competition is thin—Greg Dulcich is basically all the Dolphins have, and the receiving corps is currently depleted. On The Fantasy Footballers’ WR/TE Rookie Preview podcast, Denver as a potential landing spot had everyone excited. Sean Payton would have a true Joker on his hands: a former QB, TE, and track star—versatility doesn’t get much better than that.
I might be in the minority, but Stowers is my top fantasy TE in this class. Many prefer Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, and I get it—Sadiq is a more well-rounded TE with stronger blocking chops. But Stowers’ college production and freakish athleticism make him a 1b to Sadiq’s 1a. Blocking and size are his main concerns, but he is new to the position and has time to grow. His raw football IQ, combined with the NFL’s growing use of 12- and 13-personnel schemes, has me excited to see how he translates for fantasy.
In dynasty rookie drafts, Stowers is a prime target late in the first or early second round of SuperFlex leagues. If your league is TE Premium, I would be more comfortable using a late first on Stowers. His first-year production might be modest while he develops his blocking, but his long-term upside is top 10 at the position.