Former Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers could be drafted in NFL at new position, per reports

Former Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers could be drafted in NFL at new position, per reports

Eli Stowers, projected to be the highest draft pick out of Vanderbilt football in a half decade or more, could change positions as a pro.

According to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, some teams are evaluating Stowers as a wide receiver instead of a tight end.

Rapoport said that Stowers is set to visit the Broncos and has done visits with the Titans, Rams and Cowboys, though he did not specify whether those teams are evaluating him as a wide receiver or tight end. Stowers is ranked the 36th-best player in the draft, according to ESPN. The NFL draft takes place April 23-25.

In 2025, Stowers, a converted quarterback, hauled in 62 catches for 769 yards and four touchdowns. He was a consensus All-American and winner of the John Mackey Award for the country's top tight end.

Vanderbilt defensive tackle Glenn Seabrooks III (53) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt edge Brian Allen Jr. (10) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt coach Wes Lea runs drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt quarterback Jack Elliott (11) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt quarterback Blaze Berlowitz goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt defensive tackle Glenn Seabrooks III (53) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt offensive line coach Chris Klenakis goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt tight end Elijah Rooney (49) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) hands off to running back Gabe Fields (24) during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt running back Gabe Fields (24) runs during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt quarterback Blaze Berlowitz (1) hands off to running back Sedrick Alexander (28) during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt tight end Cole Spence goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) pitches to running back Gabe Fields (24) during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt tight end Maurice Venay (45) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt tight ends coach Brendan Flaherty goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt quarterback Whit Muschamp (10) hands off to running back Jamezell Lassiter (41) during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt edge Brian Allen Jr. (10) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) hands off to running back Gabe Fields (24) during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt quarterback Jack Elliott (11) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt defensive tackle Glenn Seabrooks III (53) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt defensive tackle Glenn Seabrooks III (53) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt edge Brian Allen Jr. (10) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt coach Wes Lea runs drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt quarterback Jack Elliott (11) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt quarterback Blaze Berlowitz goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt defensive tackle Glenn Seabrooks III (53) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt offensive line coach Chris Klenakis goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt tight end Elijah Rooney (49) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) hands off to running back Gabe Fields (24) during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt running back Gabe Fields (24) runs during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt quarterback Blaze Berlowitz (1) hands off to running back Sedrick Alexander (28) during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt tight end Cole Spence goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) pitches to running back Gabe Fields (24) during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt tight end Maurice Venay (45) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt tight ends coach Brendan Flaherty goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt quarterback Whit Muschamp (10) hands off to running back Jamezell Lassiter (41) during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt edge Brian Allen Jr. (10) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) hands off to running back Gabe Fields (24) during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt quarterback Jack Elliott (11) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

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Vanderbilt football offense and defense back to the practice gridiron

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Vanderbilt has not had a first-round pick since Chris Williams in 2008 and has not had a second-rounder since Dayo Odeyingbo in 2020.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Eli Stowers, formerly of Vanderbilt football, may change positions in NFL