Eagles select TE Eli Stowers with pick No. 54 in NFL Draft

TL;DR

The Philadelphia Eagles selected tight end Eli Stowers with the 54th pick in the NFL Draft, aiming to replace Dallas Goedert. Stowers set a combine record for vertical leap and had impressive college stats at Vanderbilt.

Key points

Eagles selected Eli Stowers with the 54th pick in the NFL Draft
Stowers set a combine record for vertical leap at 45½ inches
He earned first-team All-SEC honors at Vanderbilt

Philadelphia EaglesEli StowersDallas Goedert

Philadelphia landed the eventual replacement for Dallas Goedert at pick No. 54, selecting Eli Stowers. With top prospect Kenyon Sadiq off the board, Philadelphia turned towards Vanderbilt's Stowers, who set the NFL scouting combine record for vertical leap at his position with a 45½-inch mark while also logging a 4.51-second 40-yard dash and an 11-3 broad jump.

Stowers previously spoke about formal visit with the Eagles' tight ends coach, Ryan Mahaffey. Stowers discussed his impressions of Philadelphia, his fit in the offense, and what he believes he brings to an NFL team.

Stowers began his college career at Texas A&M, signing with the Aggies out of the class of 2021 as a four-star recruit. Stowers played just five games across two seasons in College Station before transferring to New Mexico State, logging 35 catches for 366 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for two more scores.

After his teammate at New Mexico State, Diego Pavia, transferred to Vanderbilt ahead of the 2024 season, Stowers followed suit. In his first season at Vanderbilt, he recorded 638 yards and five touchdowns, earning first-team All-SEC honors. In 2025, Stowers had a standout season with 62 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns, once again receiving first-team All-SEC honors for the second consecutive year. Additionally, he was named a unanimous All-American, won the Mackey Award, and received the Campbell Trophy.

Q&A

Who is Eli Stowers and what are his college achievements?

Eli Stowers is a tight end who played at Vanderbilt, earning first-team All-SEC honors twice and being named a unanimous All-American.

What notable records did Eli Stowers set at the NFL scouting combine?

Eli Stowers set a combine record for vertical leap at his position with a 45½-inch mark, along with a 4.51-second 40-yard dash.

Why did the Eagles select Eli Stowers in the NFL Draft?

The Eagles selected Eli Stowers to eventually replace Dallas Goedert, as they sought a talented tight end after top prospect Kenyon Sadiq was off the board.