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Board/2026 Class/Tier I · 78%+/Eli Stowers
Rank03of 48
TETier I · 78%+ hit rate2026 Class

Eli
Stowers

Vanderbilt · SEC

Height
6'4"
Weight
239
40-yd
—
Age
—
RAS
—
Wingspan
—
Hit-Rate Composite · 12yr Model

The tape & the data, plotted against twelve years of comps.

Model confidence★★★★☆
80%Composite hit rate
Base rate (ADP)
12yr · n=5 prospects in window
0%255075100
80%5 of 5 hit
Adjusted (tape)
5 All-22 games · HIVE Tape Desk · Apr 18–24
0%255075100
80%tape overlay
Composite
50 / 50 blend · headline number on the board
0%255075100
80%composite
Comparables window · 2014–2025n=5 · TE · ADP 1.07–1.12Hit (top-24 Y3+)MissSubjectView comp methodology →
5/5

Of the 5 prior tight ends who entered with a 1.07–1.12 SuperFlex rookie ADP, 5 hit top-24 in 1+ season. Eli Stowers's tape places him in the lower half of that pool.

All comparables →
02 · The Scouting Report

The tape read on Stowers.

HIVE Editorial · Tape & Scouting DeskFiled editorially

Pass-game ceiling of the class. Blocking caps the three-down role.

2025 Mackey Award winner and one of the most productive playmakers at the position over the past two seasons. The athletic profile is legitimately elite — a 4.51 40 and 45.5" vertical at 239 lbs rank among the best ever posted at the position. Combine that with a converted-QB learning curve that's produced real alignment versatility and he's the cleanest pass-game projection in the class. Zone-beating feel is well ahead of his positional reps, with consistent success on curls, sticks, and speed outs. The hard cap is blocking: Vandy routinely subbed him off the field for true 11 personnel and heavy packages, which tells you exactly what his NFL coaches will see on tape. Factor in that he'll turn 23 in his draft year and the runway for developmental growth narrows. Pass-game ceiling of the class; blocking ceiling isn't there.

Strengths

  • 2025 Mackey Award winner — elite two-year production at the position
  • 4.51 40 and 45.5" vertical at 239 lbs — rare athletic profile at TE
  • Zone surgeon — feel for space well ahead of his positional reps
  • Converted QB with real alignment versatility and pre-snap processing

Concerns

  • Cannot block in-line — routinely subbed off for 11 personnel and heavy packages
  • Hit-or-miss as a move blocker even on simpler assignments
  • Turns 23 in his draft year — older prospect, narrower developmental runway

HIVE Verdict

Composite hit rate80%
Rookie ADP1.11
HIVE rank03 of 48
vs. consensus—
Startup ADP—
7-day Δ—

Archetype

Move / Flex Y · Pass-Game Weapon

Pro compMike Gesicki with better route nuance

Tier-mate context

Tier I cohort4 of 48 · 78%+
Position rankTE2
Class rank3 of 48
03 · The Comparables

Twelve years, 5 prospects.

Threshold
Filtered · TE · ADP 1.07–1.12 · 2014–2025
Hit
Brock Bowers
2024 · — · 1.08
Y3 finish—
Hits2
Hit
Tyler Warren
2025 · — · 1.11
Y3 finish—
Hits1
Hit
Dalton Kincaid
2023 · — · 1.09
Y3 finish—
Hits1
Hit
TJ Hockenson
2019 · — · 1.11
Y3 finish—
Hits3
Hit
Eric Ebron
2014 · — · 1.10
Y3 finish—
Hits1
Rank03of 48
  • TE
  • Tier I
  • 78%+ hit rate
  • 2026 class

Eli
Stowers

Vanderbilt·SEC

Height6'4"
Weight239
40-yd—
Age—
RAS—
Wingspan—
01 · Hit-Rate Composite · 12yr Model

The tape & the data, plotted against twelve years of comps.

Model confidence
★★★★☆
80%
Composite hit rate
Base rate (ADP)
12yr · n=5 prospects in window
80%
5 of 5 hit
0%255075100
Adjusted (tape)
5 All-22 games · HIVE Tape Desk
80%
tape overlay
0%255075100
Composite
50 / 50 blend · headline number on the board
80%
composite
0%255075100
Hit (top-24 Y3+)MissSubject
Window · TE · ADP 1.07–1.12 · '14–'25View methodology →
5/5

Of the 5 prior tight ends who entered with a 1.07–1.12 SuperFlex rookie ADP, 5 hit top-24 in 1+ season. Eli Stowers's tape places him in the lower half of that pool.

All comparables→
02 · The Scouting Report

The tape read on Stowers.

HIVE Editorial · Tape & Scouting Desk · Filed editorially

Pass-game ceiling of the class. Blocking caps the three-down role.

2025 Mackey Award winner and one of the most productive playmakers at the position over the past two seasons. The athletic profile is legitimately elite — a 4.51 40 and 45.5" vertical at 239 lbs rank among the best ever posted at the position. Combine that with a converted-QB learning curve that's produced real alignment versatility and he's the cleanest pass-game projection in the class. Zone-beating feel is well ahead of his positional reps, with consistent success on curls, sticks, and speed outs. The hard cap is blocking: Vandy routinely subbed him off the field for true 11 personnel and heavy packages, which tells you exactly what his NFL coaches will see on tape. Factor in that he'll turn 23 in his draft year and the runway for developmental growth narrows. Pass-game ceiling of the class; blocking ceiling isn't there.

Strengths
  • 2025 Mackey Award winner — elite two-year production at the position
  • 4.51 40 and 45.5" vertical at 239 lbs — rare athletic profile at TE
  • Zone surgeon — feel for space well ahead of his positional reps
  • Converted QB with real alignment versatility and pre-snap processing
Concerns
  • Cannot block in-line — routinely subbed off for 11 personnel and heavy packages
  • Hit-or-miss as a move blocker even on simpler assignments
  • Turns 23 in his draft year — older prospect, narrower developmental runway
HIVE Verdict
Composite hit rate80%
Rookie ADP1.11
HIVE rank03 of 48
vs. consensus—
Startup ADP—
7-day Δ—
Archetype
Move / Flex Y · Pass-Game Weapon
Pro compMike Gesicki with better route nuance
Tier-mate context
Tier I cohort4 of 4 · 78%+
Position rankTE2
Class rank3 of 48
03 · The Comparables

Twelve years, 5 prospects.

Threshold
Filtered · TE · ADP 1.07–1.12 · 2014–2025
Hit

Brock Bowers

2024·—·1.08
Y3 finish
—
Hits
2
Hit

Tyler Warren

2025·—·1.11
Y3 finish
—
Hits
1
Hit

Dalton Kincaid

2023·—·1.09
Y3 finish
—
Hits
1
Hit

TJ Hockenson

2019·—·1.11
Y3 finish
—
Hits
3
Hit

Eric Ebron

2014·—·1.10
Y3 finish
—
Hits
1
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