The Philadelphia Eagles might have gotten a steal in the late rounds of this year’s draft. Rookie tight end Eli Stowers, who started his college career as a quarterback at Texas A&M before moving to Vanderbilt, is already making noise at minicamp. The guy caught 62 passes for 769 yards last season and won the Mackey Award. And now he’s showing up as more than just a project.
Stowers talked openly about the transition from throwing passes to blocking defensive ends. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s kind of a weird adjustment for someone who spent years never having to block anybody.
“Quarterbacks are never really asked to block, so you have to learn the technique,” Stowers said in a media session. “It’s not necessarily a hurdle, but mastering the technique is essential. It requires plenty of reps. On top of that, it’s about having the determination to want to block. I have that drive, and I aim to be the best blocker I can be.”
That attitude matters. The Eagles need playmakers in the receiving corps, and Stowers fits the profile of a move tight end who can stretch the field. At Vanderbilt he showed he could do damage after the catch, and his athleticism stands out even among NFL athletes. ESPN recently called him a legitimate draft steal, which is strong praise for a guy nobody was talking about in the first two rounds.
But here’s the thing about Stowers. He’s not going to be an every-down starter right away. The Eagles still have Dallas Goedert as the clear number one. But the plan seems pretty obvious. By 2026, Stowers should be a significant weapon. By 2027, he’s the likely replacement for Goedert. The team hasn’t said that publicly, but the timeline lines up with Goedert’s contract situation and age.
Stowers also brings something the Eagles offense hasn’t had in a while — a tight end who can line up in the slot and create mismatches against linebackers. That’s a luxury for Jalen Hurts and the passing game. And it gives the coaching staff flexibility to run two-tight end sets without much of a drop-off.
Look, it’s early. Minicamp hype is a thing, and plenty of rookies look like stars in shorts before the pads come on. But Stowers has the production from college and the physical tools to back it up. Pair him with Michael Carter II in the secondary, and the Eagles have a couple of young pieces who could anchor the roster for years.
For now, Stowers is just focused on learning how to block. And if he keeps that drive, he might end up being one of the better value picks in this entire draft class.
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