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The Eagles drafted Eli Stowers with a clear vision in mind, and NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell believes the rookie tight end already possesses traits that could make him an immediate factor in Philadelphia's passing game. Speaking about the Eagles' second-round pick with Ross Tucker, Cosell highlighted Stowers' versatility as a receiver and the role he expects him to occupy in Sean Mannion's offense.
The assessment aligns with Philadelphia's view of Stowers entering his first NFL season.
Dallas Goedert remains entrenched as the starter, but the Eagles selected Stowers as both a developmental prospect and a potential long-term successor. While Goedert is expected to handle the bulk of the snaps, Stowers gives Philadelphia another athletic mismatch who can contribute in sub-packages, red-zone situations, and passing-down scenarios.
The Eagles' interest in Stowers was fueled largely by his rare athletic profile.
After highly regarded prospect Kenyon Sadiq came off the board, Philadelphia turned its attention to one of the most explosive athletes in the entire draft class. Stowers put together one of the most impressive performances at the NFL Scouting Combine, setting a tight end record with a 45½-inch vertical leap. He also ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash and posted an 11-foot-3 broad jump, numbers that reinforced his reputation as a dynamic receiving threat capable of creating mismatches against linebackers and safeties.
His production matched the athletic traits.
Stowers followed quarterback Diego Pavia from New Mexico State to Vanderbilt ahead of the 2024 season and quickly emerged as one of the SEC's most productive offensive weapons. He totaled 638 receiving yards and five touchdowns while earning first-team All-SEC honors in his first season with the Commodores.
He elevated his game to another level in 2025, finishing with 62 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns. The breakout campaign earned him first-team All-SEC honors for a second consecutive season, unanimous All-American recognition, the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end, and the Campbell Trophy.
For Philadelphia, Stowers arrives at a pivotal time.
The Eagles are entering a new era offensively under coordinator Sean Mannion and continue to reshape the skill-position group following the trade of A.J. Brown. While the offense still features established stars, there is a growing emphasis on versatility and distributing touches across multiple playmakers. Stowers fits that philosophy perfectly.
His ability to stretch the field vertically, operate underneath, and create yards after the catch gives Mannion another chess piece to deploy alongside Goedert, DeVonta Smith, Hollywood Brown, and rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon.
Philadelphia recently finalized Stowers' rookie contract, leaving only Markel Bell unsigned among the team's draft selections. With the business side complete, the focus now shifts to training camp, where Stowers will begin competing for a role in one of the NFL's most talented offenses. If Cosell's evaluation proves accurate, the Eagles may have landed much more than a developmental tight end. They may have found another explosive pass catcher capable of becoming a major part of the offense both now and in the future.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Why Greg Cosell loves Eagles tight end Eli Stowers' tremendous upside
Continue reading...
The assessment aligns with Philadelphia's view of Stowers entering his first NFL season.
Dallas Goedert remains entrenched as the starter, but the Eagles selected Stowers as both a developmental prospect and a potential long-term successor. While Goedert is expected to handle the bulk of the snaps, Stowers gives Philadelphia another athletic mismatch who can contribute in sub-packages, red-zone situations, and passing-down scenarios.
The Eagles' interest in Stowers was fueled largely by his rare athletic profile.
After highly regarded prospect Kenyon Sadiq came off the board, Philadelphia turned its attention to one of the most explosive athletes in the entire draft class. Stowers put together one of the most impressive performances at the NFL Scouting Combine, setting a tight end record with a 45½-inch vertical leap. He also ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash and posted an 11-foot-3 broad jump, numbers that reinforced his reputation as a dynamic receiving threat capable of creating mismatches against linebackers and safeties.
His production matched the athletic traits.
Stowers followed quarterback Diego Pavia from New Mexico State to Vanderbilt ahead of the 2024 season and quickly emerged as one of the SEC's most productive offensive weapons. He totaled 638 receiving yards and five touchdowns while earning first-team All-SEC honors in his first season with the Commodores.
He elevated his game to another level in 2025, finishing with 62 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns. The breakout campaign earned him first-team All-SEC honors for a second consecutive season, unanimous All-American recognition, the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end, and the Campbell Trophy.
For Philadelphia, Stowers arrives at a pivotal time.
The Eagles are entering a new era offensively under coordinator Sean Mannion and continue to reshape the skill-position group following the trade of A.J. Brown. While the offense still features established stars, there is a growing emphasis on versatility and distributing touches across multiple playmakers. Stowers fits that philosophy perfectly.
His ability to stretch the field vertically, operate underneath, and create yards after the catch gives Mannion another chess piece to deploy alongside Goedert, DeVonta Smith, Hollywood Brown, and rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon.
Philadelphia recently finalized Stowers' rookie contract, leaving only Markel Bell unsigned among the team's draft selections. With the business side complete, the focus now shifts to training camp, where Stowers will begin competing for a role in one of the NFL's most talented offenses. If Cosell's evaluation proves accurate, the Eagles may have landed much more than a developmental tight end. They may have found another explosive pass catcher capable of becoming a major part of the offense both now and in the future.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Why Greg Cosell loves Eagles tight end Eli Stowers' tremendous upside
Continue reading...
