Dallas Cowboys 2026 NFL Draft: Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers Scouting Report

Eli Stowers is one of the most fascinating players in the entire 2026 NFL Draft. He was one of the top quarterback prospects in his recruiting class, but made the switch to tight end at Texas A&M in 2021. But then he moved back to quarterback in 2023 before transferring to New Mexico State, where he bounced back and forth from QB to TE.

But he found a home at tight end for Vanderbilt and has since parlayed two productive seasons into a player who could be selected inside the top-50 picks in the NFL Draft. How does he stack up compared to the rest of the tight ends in this class? And could he be a Day 1 starter? Let’s dive into the scouting report of this former Vanderbilt star heading into the 2026 Draft:

Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Height: 6036

Weight: 239 pounds

40 Yard Dash Time: 4.51 (1.59 10-yard split)

Recruiting: 4-star recruit, No. 106 ranked nationally, No. 12 ranked QB

College Production: 45 games, 146 receptions, 1,773 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns

Positives:

• Elite athleticism with fantastic quickness and acceleration. Gets down the field in a hurry.

• Should be a huge weapon as a seam receiver in the next level. Routinely runs by linebackers and safeties without breaking a sweat.

• Very reliable hands with only six career drops.

• Can sky for the football. 45.5 inch vertical, and it shows up on the field.

• Runs away from defenders after the catch. One of the best YAC players you’ll ever see at the TE position.

• Outstanding in and out of his breaks. Sinks his hips to get low and explodes on in-breaking routes.

• Massive catch radius and has no problem adjusting to throws behind him and above his head.

Negatives:

• Older prospect (23) with limited experience at the tight end position.

• Has almost no interest in blocking. One of the worst blockers you’ll ever see drafted high at the TE position.

• Not a whole lot of play strength as a receiver and virtually none as a blocker.

• Lack of power shows up after the catch. Doesn’t run through many arm tackles.

• No special teams experience. That could limit opportunities for him early in his career.

Eli Stowers NFL Player Comparison: Mike Gesicki, Bengals

It’s hard to find a suitable comparison for Stowers because he is one of the most athletic players ever at the tight end position. But in terms of role and fit, Mike Gesicki isn’t a bad one.

Gesicki is essentially a big slot receiver for the Bengals and is seam target for Joe Burrow. But the difference here is that Stowers is much more dynamic after the catch and with the ball in his hands. However, expect him to have a similar role to Gesicki at the next level.

Eli Stowers Fit With Dallas Cowboys:

Stowers is the type of tight end that Dak Prescott has never had in his career. He’s a field-stretching tight end who can attack the middle of the field, but also win in the short areas of the field with his YAC ability.

He wouldn’t be an in-line blocker and would function more as a slot receiver, but there would be some redundancy with how he and CeeDee Lamb are used. However, his size, athleticism, and leaping ability would make Dallas just about unstoppable on offense.

Eli Stowers NFL Draft Grade: Round 2

There is no doubt that Stowers is a talented player. If he can get paired with the right quarterback, he could lead all tight ends in receptions and yards. But because he has no interest in blocking and there is a general lack of play strength, he won’t be for everyone.

And there will be times when he shouldn’t be on the field. Still, he is a valuable weapon, and teams searching for the next Trey McBride would be wise to value Stowers anywhere after the top-25 selections.