Eli Stowers — Scouting Report | DynastySignal

Position: TE | School: Vanderbilt | Draft Year: 2026

The Short Version

Eli Stowers is a receiving-first tight end who spent 2024 as Vanderbilt's entire passing offense — a moveable mismatch weapon who led the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns against SEC competition including Alabama, Texas, and South Carolina. The case for him is simple: the athleticism and zone-beating route acumen translate, the 13.0 yards-per-catch average against Power conference defenses is real, and a coaching staff that schemes him up as a featured pass-catcher immediately gets legitimate value out of him. The case against is equally direct: there is almost no blocking on tape, the NFL coaching community knows it, and former Titans GM Ran Carthon said the quiet part out loud — teams won't trust a tight end who can't contribute to their run game, especially early in his career. Stowers is a chess piece looking for the right board.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Detail |

|---|---|

| Position | Tight End (H-Back / Move TE) |

| School | Vanderbilt (SEC) |

| Uniform # | 9 |

| Build | Long, lean frame (~6'3"–6'4", ~240–250 lbs est.) |

| 2024 Production | 49 REC / 638 YDS / 13.0 YPR / 5 TD / 41 Long |

| Team Role | Led Vanderbilt in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TDs |

| CBS TE Ranking | #4 at position (Summer Scouting, NFL on CBS) |

| Height/Weight | Confirmed approximate from film; Combine will clarify |

| Eligibility | 2026 NFL Draft |

Film Sources Reviewed

| Source | Prefix | Frames | Key Content |

|---|---|---|---|

| NFL Film Room — Full 2024 Season Highlights | `film_` | 18 | In-game broadcast angles across 8+ opponents (Alabama, Auburn, Texas, South Carolina, Georgia State, Ball State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech); broadcast catches, YAC, sideline grabs |

| cutcall — All-22 Route Running Cut-Up | `film_2_` | 19 | Pre-snap alignment, route trees with telestration; concept labels (switch, shallow/sit/drill, spcl sit, alt/elt); vs. Texas and Auburn |

| NFL on CBS / CBS Sports Network | `highlights_` | 18 | Panel discussion: Ryan Wilson + former Titans GM Ran Carthon; stat card; "Summer Scouting" TE rankings; contextual scouting analysis |

What The Film Shows

1. Route Running — **Grade: B+**

The All-22 cut-up (film_2 series) is the most instructive film in this package, and it paints a clear picture of what Stowers is and isn't. He understands zone coverage at a level that most college tight ends don't. His "sit" routes are legitimately well-executed — he identifies the linebacker's depth, finds the void between the second and third levels, and settles cleanly into the window (film_2_011 through film_2_014). That's a skill set that holds up in the NFL, particularly in West Coast and Shanahan-tree offenses that traffic in three-level vertical stretches.

The switch-release concepts are also encouraging (film_2_002, film_2_003). He's used in pick/rub schemes that require him to understand path-crossing timing, and on a critical 4th & 5 vs. Texas, he executes the release cleanly and creates separation (film_2_004, film_2_005). The "spcl sit" red-zone variant shows he can work in compressed end-zone space, finding voids when the field shrinks (film_2_015, film_2_016, film_2_017).

What's less established is the vertical route tree. The cut-up skews almost entirely toward underneath and intermediate routes — sits, shallows, crossers, digs, and angle routes. There's a glimpse of him running free down the boundary vs. Texas on a coverage bust (film_2_009), but that's more scheme execution than a true vertical threat. Whether he can beat press coverage consistently, run a credible corner or post, and threaten NFL safeties over the top is genuinely unknown from this sample.

Against man coverage, evidence is thin. The concepts he's featured in are primarily zone-beaters. At the NFL level, he will face far more physical press-man on the line of scrimmage than he did in Vanderbilt's system.

Route Tree Observed: Sit, Shallow, Dig/In-breaking, Switch/Crosser, Spcl Sit (Red Zone), Angle, Drag.

2. Athleticism & Speed — **Grade: B**

Stowers plays with receiver-level athleticism. The moment that stands out is a film_007 clip vs. No. 1 Alabama where he accelerates to full speed quickly enough to create separation in a 3rd & 9 situation — that's not nothing against an Alabama defense. In film_009, he runs through contact along the sideline and fights for extra yardage, showing good lower-body strength and balance for a lean player. His broadcast highlights show consistent speed after the catch.

The concern is he hasn't been tested as a vertical threat who has to win a pure footrace versus a safety. At 13.0 yards per reception, he's finding intermediate pay dirt, not punishing teams deep. He moves like a big slot receiver — fluid, with natural change of direction — but the data doesn't confirm elite straight-line speed yet. Combine numbers will be crucial. If he runs anything under 4.55, the conversation gets considerably more interesting.

3. Hands & Catching — **Grade: B+**

This is one of the stronger aspects of his profile. Stowers catches the ball naturally, away from his body, and shows comfort in traffic (film_2_012 — catching through converging Auburn defenders in the red zone). His sideline grab vs. Auburn (film_003) shows boundary awareness and the ability to maintain concentration with bodies in his face. The diving end-zone attempt vs. Texas (film_2_017) demonstrates catch-point extension and the willingness to lay out in tight quarters.

The 49-reception, 5-touchdown 2024 season with a 13.0 YPR average suggests minimal drops — a lead receiver who can't hang onto the ball doesn't get 49 catches from a team leaning on him this heavily. He reads the ball well out of the quarterback's hand and adjusts on throws to his catch radius, not just throws he has to stand still for.

4. YAC & After Contact — **Grade: B-**

Stowers generates yards after the catch, but it's more about athleticism than physicality. When he catches in space (film_016 vs. Florida, film_015 vs. South Carolina at midfield), he can accelerate and make defenders miss. He's not bowling anyone over — this isn't a guy who drags safeties for extra yards — but he does run through arm tackles and fights for the extra four or five yards in the open field.

At the NFL level, the after-contact question gets harder. Safeties and linebackers don't just miss arm tackles. His current body type (lean for a TE) will affect how much YAC he can generate against bigger, faster defenders. He needs to add functional strength before the combine if he wants teams to see him as something more than a speed-limit tight end.

5. Blocking — **Grade: D+**

This is the film that isn't there, and that's the answer. The All-22 cut-up (cutcall, 19 frames) is exclusively route-running reps. There is essentially no run-blocking or pass-protection film featured anywhere in this package. The NFL Film Room highlights show pre-snap formations where Stowers is often aligned split out wide or as a wing/move TE — not in-line (film_002, film_004, film_005). When he is attached in broadcast film, he's releasing into a route within the first beat of the play.

The Georgia State highlight (film_002, 3rd & 16) shows him working after a catch, not blocking. The Alabama indoor practice game (film_008) features a run play where Stowers is aligned, but the resolution of the pre-snap formation shot doesn't give us a clean look at his engagement.

Former GM Ran Carthon was explicit on CBS Sports: the "coaches won't trust him" narrative is directly tied to this blocking concern (highlights_008 through highlights_016). NFL tight ends are asked to be involved on run plays, pass protection schemes, and inline assignments at all three levels. If Stowers can't contribute there, he's a chess piece that defensive coordinators can substitute personnel for — teams can cover him with a linebacker off the line without giving up anything defensively, because he's not threatening the run game. That limits the schematic ceiling and, ultimately, NFL snap counts.

Until Stowers proves he can functionally hold his ground in the run game and at least pick up a blitzing linebacker in protection, NFL coaches will rightfully be hesitant to feature him in a way that makes him the centerpiece of an offense.

6. Scheme Fit — **Grade: B**

Stowers is purpose-built for spread/pass-heavy offenses that use the tight end as a moveable receiver rather than as a blocker. Think: Kansas City's Travis Kelce usage patterns in motion-heavy schemes, or Shanahan's F-tight-end role in San Francisco's wide zone system where the TE flexes out. He could also thrive in an RPO-heavy college-to-NFL system where the TE primarily functions as a slot receiver from varied alignments.

He will struggle to get on the field in early-downs run games, two-TE sets, and traditional 12-personnel packages where the second tight end is expected to block in-line. Teams drafting him need to view him as a 20- to 30-snap guy who earns more time as his blocking develops. He's not a three-down TE coming out of school — that's the honest assessment.

The good news: the league is trending away from needing that archetype. In 11-personnel-heavy offenses that use TEs as big slot weapons, Stowers fits. And those teams exist — Kansas City, San Francisco (as a secondary role player), Green Bay's emerging spread system, or any OC who wants to create coverage problems with a 6'3"+ receiver who runs like a slot.

Strengths Summary

Concerns & Risks

NFL Comp

Primary Comp: Jordan Akins (career arc) / Noah Gray (function)

Stowers isn't going to be a star, but he's the type of player who — in the right system — can put up 40-50 catches and 500-600 yards as a #2 or #3 option. Noah Gray in Kansas City is the fair functional comparison: a route-running TE who succeeds in concepts, contributes in the passing game, doesn't need to be a dominant blocker to earn snaps, and can find a niche on a team that uses TE position flexibly. The difference is that even Gray contributes more in the run game than what we see from Stowers on film.

Secondary Comp: Cole Kmet (pre-blocking development)

There's some Kmet in the profile — big, athletic, receiver-first, and needing to develop as a blocker. Kmet eventually became a functional blocker in Chicago. If Stowers can do the same, the ceiling rises. But that development took time and a committed coaching investment. Kmet is probably the optimistic projection; Stowers' floor is a third-down specialist who never quite earns the full-time starter role because teams won't take him off the field on third down but can't trust him on first.

Bottom Line

Eli Stowers is a legitimate NFL-level receiving tight end who posted real numbers against real competition in 2024, and his route running film against Texas and Auburn shows a player who understands how to win at the next level in the passing game. The dynasty value lies in landing him on a team that schemes him the same way Vanderbilt did — as a moveable receiving weapon in spread concepts — and in him developing enough functional blocking to earn the trust of an NFL head coach who wants his tight end on the field on all three downs. That combination of landing spot and development trajectory creates exactly the kind of upside/risk profile that dynasty managers should find compelling in the Day 2/3 range: you're not paying a premium for a polished starter, you're buying into a high-target-share arrow that's pointing in the right direction if the situation is right.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 64/100

Projected Pick: R3, Pick 75-100

Film Score: 64 / 100

Scout 2 Report: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

The Short Version

Eli Stowers is a fluid seam-stretcher with WR-level route savvy in a TE frame—hot take: the "trust" noise from ex-GMs is overblown Vandy bias; this kid's a Day 2 steal who thrives in 11 personnel spread offenses, not some blocking afterthought.

Measurables & Background

| Trait | Detail |

|----------------|-------------------------|

| Height | 6'4" |

| Weight | 242 lbs |

| Age (Draft Day)| 21 |

| Class | RS Junior |

| Hometown | Elk Grove, CA |

| Recruiting | 3-star, chose Vandy over mid-majors |

| 2024 Stats | 49 rec, 638 yds, 13.0 YPC, 5 TD (team leader in rec) |

| 2025 Proj | Limited snaps in crowded room |

Film Sources

| Source | Description | Frames |

|--------|-------------|--------|

| NFL Film Room Full 2024 Highlights | Season cuts vs VT, GA St, Auburn, BGSU, etc. (4:42) | film_001 - film_018 (37 total) |

| CBS: Why Former GM Doesn't Think NFL Coaches Will Trust Him (7:30) | Podcast w/ Ryan Wilson & Ran Carthon (Titans GM); stats, rankings, debate | highlights_001 - highlights_018 |

| Cutcall All-22 Route Running Cut-Up (3:02) | Pure routes vs Texas, Auburn, etc. | film_2_001 - film_2_019 |

Film Analysis

Overall Grade: B+ (82/100)

Stowers pops as a receiving threat but raw inline. CBS clip (highlights_001-018) shows Carthon ranking him #1 TE summer board but flags "trust issues"—specifically, NFL coaches wary of his blocking buy-in and anchor strength vs power edges; says he'll be "slot/motion guy only" due to Vanderbilt's spread scheme masking weaknesses. Contrarian view: tape shows functional drive blocking and willingness (film_2_004, film_009); trust builds with coaching.

Strengths

Concerns

Dynasty Outlook

Rookie: TE20-25 flex in pass-fun leagues; 40-50 catches, 500 yds, 4 TD as TE2.

Yr2: TE12 upside in motion offenses (SF, KC, CIN).

Yr3: TE8 ceiling if blocking clicks. Fits creative OC needing seam/YAC spark (e.g., Lions, Eagles backup plan).

NFL Comp

Bottom Line

Stowers is QB-friendly separator who'll outplay Day 2 capital—ignore the blocking FUD, pair him with a lead horse and watch 800+ yd seasons stack in spread NFL.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 82/100

Projected Pick: R2, Pick 35-50

Film Score: 82 / 100