The Philadelphia Eagles have plenty of needs on their roster to address during the 2026 NFL Draft, but one that has been discussed as more polarizing is tight end.
At the beginning of the offseason, most mock drafts had the Eagles taking a tight end in the first round, but since Dallas Goedert re-signed with the team, things have changed, and it's more about either offensive tackle, wide receiver, or edge rusher. ESPN NFL Draft expert Matt Miller still thinks the Eagles can get a good tight end in the draft outside of the first round and has Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers as a prospect who can fill that need.
"If the Eagles are thinking about their future at tight end, why not draft the player who set combine records in the broad jump (11 feet, 3 inches) and vertical jump (45.5 inches)? Stowers could open up the Eagles' offense with the ball in his hands. And though he's not a classic in-line blocker, he is capable of sealing off the edge against linebackers and safeties."
Eli Stowers could be good option in 2026 NFL Draft for Eagles
Stowers had a great 2025 campaign with Vanderbilt as he caught 62 passes for 769 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 12.4 yards per reception. He earned a unanimous All-American selection, first-team All-SEC selection, and won the John Mackey Award for the nation's best tight end.
The Eagles have a ton of depth at tight end for the moment, with Goedert being the leading candidate to start. They also have Grant Calcaterra, Stone Smartt, Johnny Mundt, Cameron Latu, E.J. Jenkins, and Jaheim Bell.
Stowers would obviously have been seen as the future of the franchise at the position, but the question is who else would make the roster outside of him and Goedert. Calcaterra has the trust of the coaching staff, but guys like Smartt and Mundt are more like blocking tight ends needed, and Latu is a special teams ace, so it makes the decision tougher.
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There's no denying that Stowers in the second or third round of the draft should be in play for the Eagles as they try to get younger with the offense in the next few years.